What will be the fate of Wagner fighters in Arab countries?

After the attempted mutiny of the PMC "Wagner" in Russia, one of the most discussed topics remains the presence of Wagner fighters in Arab countries.

According to Anadolu, Wagner fighters for many years took part in combat operations in Syria, Libya and partly in Sudan, as well as trained local fighters and maintained military equipment.

The fate of the Wagner fighters in these Arab countries is still undetermined.

- Syria

PMC "Wagner" has been taking part in combat operations in Syria since 2015. The fighters are deployed in Damascus, Latakia, northern Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Tedmur, Deir ez-Zor, Hassakeh and Kamyshly.

In total, about 2,000 Wagner fighters are stationed in Syria, along with hired Syrians, who receive from 1,200 to 4,000 dollars in remuneration, the number reaches 3,000.

According to the Wall Street Journal, on June 27, the "Wagner fighters" in Syria were ordered to head to the Russian military base in Tartus.

Sky News Arabia, citing a senior Pentagon official, reported that Russian military intelligence had arrested many Wagner commanders in Syria.

- Libya

Italian news agency Nova reports that Libya remains the second largest Arab country in terms of the number of Wagner fighters, despite the fact that most of them have been moved to the front line in Ukraine. Some 1,500 to 2,000 Wagner fighters are stationed there.

The fighters are stationed in particular at military bases in eastern, southern and central Libya, including the military bases of Jufra, Kartabiye and the port of Sitra. Unlike in other countries, in Libya, they use military helicopters and Pantsir medium-range air defence equipment, as well as Russian MiG-29 multi-role aircraft and Su-24 fighter jets.

Wagnerites were directly involved in General Khalifa Haftar's offensive on the capital Tripoli in 2019-2020.

- Sudan

PMC Wagner fighters have been present in Sudan since President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a coup d'état in 2019.

Al-Bashir deployed "Wagnerites" on Sudanese territory in December 2017 to support the army and security forces in exchange for a gold mining agreement with the paramilitary group M Invest.

Wagner's presence did not prevent al-Bashir's ouster, but the company continues to mine gold in Mount Amir and several other areas of Darfur.