A confidential report covering the period from December 2021 to July 2024 has been submitted to the International Criminal Court. It contains data on war crimes committed by the Russian PMC “Wagner” on the territory of African countries. Video evidence shows executions, severed limbs and scenes of cannibalism with glorification of the Russian flag, informs Associated Press.
The report mentions torture, extrajudicial executions, dismemberment of bodies, acts of cannibalism, and the distribution of video and photo materials with such scenes in closed Telegram channels. In particular, recorded footage shows people in military uniform — presumably “Wagners” or representatives of local armed groups — killing civilians in Mali and Burkina Faso.
The document states that these channels were probably created and managed directly by the PKK to emphasize its brutality, intimidate opponents and create a corresponding “brand” image at the international level.
Lindsey Freeman of the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Human Rights notes that the PMC is actively using Telegram as a tool to promote itself as a ruthless mercenary group. And Danny Hoffman, a professor of international relations at the University of Washington, points out that the association with cannibalism, ritual murder or mutilation is an association with an extreme form of power.
After the official completion of the mission of the “Wagner” PMC in Mali in June 2024, its functions were taken over by the so-called African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to the US, there are currently about 2,000 Russian military personnel on the territory of the country.
