International Law and the Wagner Phenomenon in Africa: Rethinking International Responsibility for Hybrid Armed Entities in Conflict Zones

The article examines the legal challenges posed by the Wagner Group's intervention in African conflict zones, specifically in Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic, through three key approaches. The descriptive approach highlights Wagner's operational patterns in these states, emphasising the legislative deficiencies under the 1989 UN Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries and the non-binding nature of the 2008 Montreux Document. The comparative methodology assesses how other countries have effectively enforced stringent legal regulations on private security companies. The analytical approach reevaluates the international responsibility of both host and sponsoring states based on the 2001 Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA) and relevant international jurisprudence. The article recommends the establishment of a binding regional legal framework to regulate the functioning of hybrid military actors under the supervision of the African Union and its Peace and Security Council (PSC), consistent with its mandate to uphold peace and security throughout Africa.