Philip Obaji Jr. - September 9, 2024

@MriyaReport news from Ukraine & replays of guests you might have missed or want to listen to again.

Listen to a conversation with our very special guest Philip Obaji Jr.! (@PhilipObaji on Twitter).

Mriya Report was honoured to welcome the Nigeria-based correspondent for The Daily Beast. Philip covers Sub-Saharan Africa and the Wagner Group activities in Africa since 2018.

He reports on coups, security contracts and human rights abuses, and was recently abducted and tortured while reporting on the activities of this Russian private army.

Philip, as an investigative journalist, draws a clear link between Russia's actions in Ukraine and its growing influence in Africa. He explains that the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary force, has been operating in Africa with a goal of seizing control of valuable resources. In the Central African Republic (CAR), Russian mercenaries have taken over gold and diamond mines, backing local regimes in exchange for resource access. With the ongoing conflict, some of these Wagner fighters have been pulled out of Africa to bolster Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, showing how interconnected their activities are.

Philip believes that if Ukraine wins and weakens Russia, it could force the Kremlin to scale back its operations in Africa, creating an opening for Western nations to step in. Western countries, he points out, have largely pulled away from these regions, leaving a vacuum that Russia and China have filled. The outcome of the war in Ukraine could shift the balance, not just in Europe but across the globe, affecting Russia’s hold over both its resource extraction in Africa and its political alliances.

An absolute must-listen. Don’t miss out and make sure to join us!

#UkraineWins #Africa #Geopolitics