Wagner Group - devils or allies of Africa?

When Amnesty International, UN and HRW are in alignment, always question.

UK Column News 24th May - with Mike Robinson, Debi Evans (health correspondent) and Vanessa Beeley.

This week in my section I look at the latest attempts to criminalise Russian Wagner Group in Africa as African nations turn against US/UK/EU hegemony in the region. Is Wagner the convict-laden-criminal entity the West would have you believe or the “Heroes of Africa”? Judge for yourself.

I also look at a new report from Action on Armed Violence - ‘British Special Forces on service in at least 19 countries’ including Syria and Russia (2014). Executive summary:

This analysis of credible English-language news reports reveals that Britain’s Special Forces, UKSF, have been deployed operationally in at least 19 countries, regions or territories and involved in missions in several others in the past decade, raising questions over the level of transparency and democratic oversight these shadowy units operate under. The UKSF operates distinctively from the rest of the British military, and despite being accountable to the Defence Secretary and Prime Minister, there is no parliamentary oversight or mechanism to conduct retrospective reviews. There have been several controversies associated with the UKSF, including assassinations, alleged cover-ups, deniability outsourcing, fighting alongside child soldiers, and friendly fire incidents. Calls have been made for greater transparency and oversight by various MPs and committees.