French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday described the Russian mercenary Wagner Group as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa", in comments made before he visits the continent.
PARIS —
He said that African nations would eventually stop turning to the Wagner Group as they would see that it only sows misery.
The Russian-based mercenaries have established a bloody presence in Africa, from the Central African Republic to the Sahel, where governments have pushed out French forces - replaced in some instances by Wagner paid fighters.
The French president plans a trip to Africa later this week, stopping first in Gabon before going to Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Macron said that France needs to demonstrate a "profound humility" in Africa, where it once reigned as a colonial power.