Investigation alleges Wagner trained African militias to 'burn people alive'

Wagner mercenaries allegedly played a central role in the strategy of murder, torture and rape in the Central African Republic (CAR). Credit: STRINGER/REUTERS

Russian Wagner group mercenaries taught African soldiers and militias to torture and strangle prisoners and even burn people alive, investigators allege.

The group, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, allegedly played a central role in the assassination strategy , torture and rape in the Central African Republic (CAR).

A study by the Sentry investigative team found that Wagner helped CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéré launch a campaign of terror against his enemies, even as he pursued his own business interests.

Over the past five years, the group has «devised a plan to take over states by supporting a criminal state captured by the President of the Central African Republic and his inner circle, amassing military power, providing access to and plundering precious minerals, and suppressing the population with terror.”

According to researchers, Wagner’s actions in the country will probably serve as a model for doing business in other countries.

'Mass killings, torture and rape'

Mr Touadéra hired the group in 2018 to help repel insurgents, and Wagner has since made similar deals in Mali, Burkina Faso and Libya, among others.

«Wagner, Touadéra and his inner circle carried out large-scale, systematic and well-planned campaigns of mass killings, torture and rape,» Sentry said, citing interviews with more than 45 people, including 11 members of the CAR armed forces. /p>

A member of the presidential guard told the researchers: «The training was conducted by a Russian instructor … it included the training of saboteurs, interrogations, aggressive techniques, torture, violence.»

The report says that soldiers and militias were taught «how to cut hands, fingers and feet; remove nails; use the knives to cut the meat; strangle; throw fuel and burn people alive; organize targeted kidnappings; and more.”

The Sentry was founded in 2016 by actor George Clooney and human rights activist John Prendergast to explore the links between conflict, money and corruption.

> Senior Advisor Mr. on Touadéra, Fidel Guandjica confirmed to Bloomberg that Wagner was present in the CAR, but stated that she did not participate in any hostilities or torture. He also denied that the CAR forces were trained in such techniques or used them.

He said: “Russian soldiers, who are called Wagners in our country, never go on the offensive. They don't attack.»