Wagner making ‘Africa even more free’, says Prigozhin in first post-rebellion video

Person who appears to be the mercenary leader and former Putin ally is seen standing in a desert area, saying his group is recruiting

Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has posted his first video address since leading a short-lived rebellion in Russia, appearing in a clip - possibly shot in Africa - on Telegram channels affiliated with the Wagner group on Monday.

Prigozhin moved into the global spotlight in June with a dramatic, short-lived mutiny that posed the most serious threat to Vladimir Putin in the president's 23-year rule. The Wagner founder long benefited from Putin's powerful patronage, including while he built a private army that fought for Russian interests abroad and participated in some of the deadliest battles of the war in Ukraine.