France Designates Wagner as a Terrorist Group
Since the start of PMC Wagner’s involvement in conflicts around the world, many voices have called for the group to be ostracised and condemned, given their violation of human rights and violent activity around Africa and the Middle East. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these calls have been amplified as Wagner's role in the war increased. As more attention was brought to the group, new information has emerged on activities of the Wagner Group that are considered war crimes and other egregious infractions of international law, such as the execution of prisoners of war, sexual violence and other criminal acts towards civilians, intimidation, and even the treatment of their own men.
The group’s involvement in Ukraine has prompted many to call for the group to be labelled a terrorist organisation, as many analysts have claimed that the group has been used by the Russian government not just as a military force, but as an unaccountable paramilitary specifically to terrorise both civilians and soldiers in Ukraine and in other countries where they operate.
On May 9th 2023, the French parliament labelled Wagner a terrorist organisation, encouraging other EU countries to adopt a similar stance. This decision fulfills several different goals:
- It closes loopholes in funding and support for the group: while Wagner has been largely ostracised and condemned in the West as a violent and unaccountable Russian foreign policy tool, it has still been able to use Western countries’ financial sectors, territory, and has used its murky legal status in order to transfer funds, launder money, and conduct logistic operations. By labelling it a terrorist organisation, it provides the legal status necessary for Western states to pursue, seize, and obstruct Wagner’s assets and operations, dealing additional blows to Wagner’s finances and Russian influence.
- It benefits France geopolitically to label Wagner a terrorist organisation, given that France has sought to have a more important role in Europe and beyond. It has emerged as a leader in sanctioning Russian entities over the war in Ukraine, as well as taking concrete steps towards assisting Ukraine in further isolating Russia’s military abilities. Furthermore, in regions of French national interest, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, Russia, through the Wagner group, has been a significant competitor to France. Wagner has operated in countries like the CAR and Mali, reducing French influence in the region. Labelling it a terrorist organisation also gives France the ability to put increasing pressure on other countries to push Wagner out of such regions and regain its foothold.