There are still more than 7,000 Russian Wagner mercenaries in Libya, the head of the country's High Council of State said Sunday. In statements on audio-chat app Clubhouse, Khalid al-Mishri said the Wagner mercenaries are armed with different types of weapons, including warplanes. According to the U.N., there are currently 20,000 foreign forces and/or mercenaries left in Libya. The Russian Wagner Group, which is owned by businessperson Yevgeny Prigozhin, a figure close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is known as one of the main groups that sent mercenaries to fight in Libya. In June, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) revealed that 2,000 Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group had been operating alongside Haftar forces.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 12, 2021 22:01 UTC