USA blacklist Wagner group

The US has blacklisted the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner from countries and groups responsible for religious freedom violations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken justified the move with the actions of the mercenary force in the Central African Republic, where Christians and Muslims have been fighting for almost a decade.

The Wagner mercenary group is considered Russia’s “shadow army”, and its fighters are deployed in Ukraine and Africa, among other places. The Russian mercenaries are accused of serious human rights violations, including torture and targeted killings.

“Systematic, sustained, severe”

The US blacklist of violations of religious liberty is submitted annually by the US government to Congress. According to the law, it includes countries and organizations that are guilty of “systematic, persistent and serious violations of religious freedom”. Sanctions can be imposed on the countries and organizations concerned.

In addition to Wagner, Cuba and Nicaragua were also added to the list this year. As in the previous year, the list also includes China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as Islamist groups such as Boko Haram, the Taliban and offshoots of the jihadist militia “Islamic State” ( IS).

“Around the world, governments and non-state actors threaten, persecute, harass, imprison and even kill individuals for their beliefs,” Blinken said.

jj/kle (afp, rtr, ap)