Time in Libya for the Wagner Group is up. The mercenaries of the Russian Private Security Military Company (PMC) linked to the Kremlin will soon leave the country. After getting more secretive and criminal, Wagner spread concern and indignation among Libyans that are fed up of continuous mistreating and unauthorized intelligence activities. Moreover, Wagner is not the only PMC meddling in Libyans’ affairs. Recently, two not authorized convoys belonging to the Wagner group went out of Sirt, sparkling critiques from the international community and the locals. Libyans are tired of foreign presence, especially of mercenaries. As Samir, from Sirt, states “we do not trust Wagner mercenaries.”
Wagner is going to leave Libya
After more than three years of illegal military operations, Wagner will leave Libya under pressure of the very same people who hired the mercenaries. Wagner Group is a Private Military Company acting on behalf of the Russian government all over the world. The Russian mercenaries performed poorly and where humiliated in Africa and slaughtered in Sirya, not being able to keep the pace with motivated and more skilled adversaries. However, warlords do not hire Wagner solely for their pure military capabilities but they use the Company to carry out their “dirty work”. In this case, we are not referring just to the enormous (and useless) trench they are digging in the desert south of Sirt. In fact, there are several accounts of their terrible behavior and damages made to Libyans.
Bullets and disrespect
In 2019, when General Haftar attacked Tripoli, many civilians left their houses and came back months later. Abu Ajila Enbis, one of the displaced people, miraculously survived when, once back in Tripoli, Wagner mercenaries captured his family. When he went to his house he encountered some Wagner contractors that put him and his family against a wall where they forced everyone to kneel down “spraying him with bullet”, as reported in the Middle East Eye. He survived but some other relatives not. “I was the last to be lined up. Then they sprayed us with bullets. I threw myself down and pretended I was dead,” he said, explaining the horrifying event.
Obviously, the one cited above is not the only case. During the Tripoli offensive locals were terrorized by “the white people dressing in strange combat fatigue speaking russian language and firing from our homes with sniper rifles” Mustafa reveals. He continues “they occupied or homes, threatened us, using our rooms as toilettes. It was disgusting and humiliating. I cannot forget it. I hate them”.
white people dressing in strange combat fatigue speaking russian language humiliated us. I hate them.
Spying on Libyans
In addition to what already said, Wagner has an history of meddling in Libyans affairs and eyewitnesses confirm the Russian mercenaries spied on Libyans and were arrested. On this topic “Fathi Bashagha, Minister of Interior the Government of National Accord (GNA), said we arrested Russian nationals on suspicion of attempting to influence planned municipal elections and gather information on the GNA’s military operations”. Wagner mercenaries are conducting similar activities in Sirt. In specific, Wagner convoys moved out south of the city in suspicious and not authorized patrols. The Libyan National Army officers strongly complained about mercenaries behavior and they want them out from the country. Samir, a shop owner south Sirt, said “we do not trust Wagner mercenaries. I do not like them. They should leave Libya. I hope they will never enter my shop. I will not serve them.”
…Wagner mercenaries. I hope they will never enter my shop. I will not serve them.
Final Chapter for Wagner
It is someway hilarious that General Haftar, who hired the mercenaries, now wants them out. As reported in the thetimes.co.uk “soon after the Wagner mercenaries appeared on the front lines near Tripoli, US officials warned Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the man who recruited them, that he was making a Faustian bargain.” Now, it seems that time in Libya for the Wagner Group is really up. It will not be easy to throw it out from Libya but the path is clear. And inevitable.