Kremlin Attempts to Reassert Control Over Wagner Group: WSJ

The Wall Street Journal has published extensive coverage on how Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion might affect the situation in Africa and the Middle East, where Russian mercenaries have been present in recent years, reports the BBC's Russian service.

Russian authorities, who have denied any links to the mercenary group for years, organized diplomatic activities just hours after Prigozhin's convoys ceased their movements, assuring partners in Africa and the Middle East that the group's activities would continue there, but under different leadership, according to the WSJ.

According to the publication, representatives from the Russian Foreign Ministry urgently flew to Syria, the Central African Republic, and Mali.

“Russia seems to be trying to absorb Prigozhin's vast network of mercenaries, but it remains unclear how feasible this is and how quickly it can occur,” the publication notes.

“The Wagner group has helped Russia solidify its influence, and the government does not want to relinquish that,” quotes the WSJ, referencing comments from former U.S. special envoy to West Africa John Peter Pham.

The WSJ also cites several international experts who say that the U.S. might take advantage of the chaos and seek to gain influence in the countries where the Wagner group operated.