This Photo Does Not Feature a Wagner Security Guard in Niger Recently
The Claim
A photo shows a private security guard from the Russian group Wagner in Niger following the recent coup.
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Emerging story
Following the recent coup in Niger, social media users circulated a photo purporting to show a private security guard affiliated with the Russian group Wagner in Niger.
One user tweeted, “
Has there been a lack of news about the Wagner PMC group in recent times? Perhaps, it is a calm before the storm. The Military Junta in Niger has made contact with the Wagner PMC Group.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated photo and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the photo making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to the recent coup in Niger.
The Photo of a Wagner Guard Dates Back to 2022
Contrary to social media users’ claims, the photo features a private security guard from the Russian group Wagner (L) standing next to a Central African Republic soldier.
The photo was shot on March 18, 2022, during a rally of the United Hearts Movement (MCU) political party at the Omnisport Stadium in Bangui, Central African Republic.
Photographer Barbara Debout captured the photo for AFP.
The Defense One website subsequently uploaded the photo to a published article entitled, “Russia’s Mercenaries Don’t Want to Control Africa. They Want to Loot It.”
The Times featured the same photo in a March 2022 article discussing the intrusion of the Wagner Group in Ukraine.
What is the Wagner Group?
Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy figure with a criminal history, claims he established Wagner in 2014. Known as "Putin's chef," he provided catering for the Kremlin.
In 2014, Wagner started supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and is suspected of aiding the annexation of Crimea by Moscow.
Wagner forces are also active in Africa and the Middle East.
Dmitry Utkin, a veteran of Russia's Chechnya wars, is believed to be the group's first field commander, using "Wagner" as his radio call sign.
Before the Ukrainian conflict, Wagner had around 5,000 fighters, mainly from Russia's elite regiments and special forces. Its numbers grew significantly during the war. Prior to the June uprising, Prigozhin claimed leadership over 25,000 troops.
Despite being technically illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a "private military company" in 2022.
Wagner Group Stance on the Recent Coup in Niger
Russia and the Wagner Group have differing stances on the recent coup in Niger. The Kremlin expressed "serious concern" and condemned the coup, aligning with the international community's viewpoint. On the other hand, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group with significant interests in Africa, welcomed the military takeover.
Although the Wagner Group has not officially claimed responsibility for the coup, Prigozhin praised the military's actions. In an audio message on the Wagner Group's Telegram channel, they portrayed the events in Niger as a struggle by the people against colonial impositions, likening it to Africa's historical state centuries ago, when outdated ways of life were forced upon them.
Niger Asks for Help from Wagner
Niger's military rulers, under pressure from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to release ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, have reached out to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for assistance. General Salifou Mody, one of the leaders behind the coup, initiated contact with Wagner during a visit to neighboring Mali.
ECOWAS has imposed a deadline for the release and reinstatement of the democratically elected president, and they have finalized a plan for intervention if the deadline is not met. In response, Niger's military government cautioned against military intervention, aiming to prevent a situation similar to Libya's.
Niger's pivot towards seeking aid from Wagner marks a departure from their previous reliance on former colonizer France.
2023 Niger Coup
In July 2023, Niger witnessed a coup orchestrated by the Presidential Guard, leading to the arrest of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family. The coup was masterminded by a faction of senior officers, who established the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) and proclaimed their takeover via a televised address.
To prevent harm and maintain order, the Nigerien Armed Forces subsequently collaborated with the CNSP to ensure the security of the president and his family.
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