Wagner Group makes millions in Africa to finance war against Ukraine

The Wagner Group [Russian private military company - ed.] is expanding its mining projects in the Central African Republic (CAR) to finance the war against Ukraine, among other goals.

Source: Politico, citing a Western official and a diplomatic cable received

Details: Over the past year, the Wagner Group has significantly expanded its operations in the Central African Republic, where mining profits could grow to nearly US$1 billion, the news outlet’s sources said.

According to the official, these funds will probably be used by the group to purchase new weapons and hire more mercenaries. Politico points out that mining is forming a channel for financing Russia's war against Ukraine.

Politico reports that Wagner Group has begun operations in the CAR in 2018, establishing a cultural centre and concluding several agreements that helped secure mining sites, including the Ndassima gold mine, located near the city of Bambari in the country’s centre. Since then, Wagner Group has turned the mine into a huge complex.

The mine now has eight producing zones in various stages of development, the largest of which is over 200 feet deep.

In addition, the cable says that the CAR is currently refusing to allow UN peacekeepers in the country to fly drones over the mine. Several of them came under fire from the CAR army. American officials consider this a sign that the Wagner Group is gaining political control in the country.

Quote: "The US has assessed that the group is helping to construct the site for long-term exploitation and has fortified the mine, constructing bridges at river crossings and with truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns at key locations.

The National Security Council declined to comment. The State Department said in an emailed statement that the US is pursuing 'multiple avenues to counter the Wagner group’s illicit transnational activities'. That has included sanctions on Prigozhin and Wagner’s network."

Earlier: In June 2022, The New York Times reported that the Wagner Group, led by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, was mining gold in Sudanese mines to illegally replenish Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves and soften the effect of Western economic sanctions on the Russian economy.

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