The Russian Foreign Ministry claims private French military companies (PMCs) operate in 14 African countries with about 100 working internationally.

The ministry said in a statement that those companies are typically led by former gendarmerie officers and, less commonly, by retired intelligence officers.

“Currently, these PMCs are active in Ukraine, Brazil, Brunei, India, Spain, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Finland, Switzerland, Estonia, and 14 African countries, including Algeria, Benin, Gabon, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Somalia, and Chad,” the statement says.

Most firms are created for limited periods to carry out specific tasks, it noted.

‘Training for combat’

“In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, French PMCs offer services to train Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in Eastern European countries,” it said.

Since 2022, French PMCs have been recruiting volunteers to participate in combat operations in Ukraine, giving priority to personnel on leave from the Foreign Legion, former EU servicemen, and citizens of African states, the ministry claimed.

According to the ministry, coordination of the PMCs is overseen by the Agency for the Dissemination of Technological Information.

The French state determines the priorities of these activities and owns a majority stake through intermediary structures, it said.

French authorities have not reacted to these claims from Russia.