Russia Aims to Regulate Operations of Wagner PMC in Africa and the Middle East: Bloomberg

According to Bloomberg, the transfer of the Wagner network's operations abroad under direct Russian command will end the scheme that allowed authorities to officially disavow responsibility for this structure's activities, citing sources close to the Ministry of Defense, the Kremlin, and the MoD. Moreover, such a decision will help maintain and even strengthen Russia's influence in certain countries.

The agency reports that a military contractor connected to the Russian Ministry of Defense is already prepared to take over the Wagner PMC's operations in the Central African Republic. Additionally, the publication asserts that last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly signed a decree requiring all 'Wagnerites' to take an oath of loyalty to the Ministry of Defense.

The report also discusses alleged visits by military delegations to Libya and Syria focused on establishing 'government control' over operations that had previously been conducted under contract with the Wagner PMC. There has yet to be an official confirmation of this information.

At the beginning of July, two weeks after the so-called Wagner Justice March, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that the Kremlin had allowed Prigozhin to retain some of his functions in Africa. According to one of the agency's informants, Putin personally granted permission for Wagner's activities to continue in the Central African Republic.

At the same time, it is noted that 'Wagnerites' are facing increased pressure from the Russian Ministry of Defense. In particular, reporters have stated that PMC fighters have been prohibited from using Russian military transport aircraft, and the Kremlin has specifically requested Syrian authorities to close off access for 'Wagner' to the Khmeimim airbase.