The world is watching Russia's actions in Ukraine. But are we missing what it's doing elsewhere?
Wagner is linked to "a network of companies, primarily mining entities" that are bringing in large sums of money. In some cases, "access to extractive resources has been a quid pro quo arrangement with African governments in return for Wagner's provision of mercenary support".
"It is really a rapacious economic aim – to get control and benefit from natural resources in the countries that they operate."From a military perspective, Wagner has been in Africa since 2017. That year, it deployed troops to Sudan, and shortly after went into the Central African Republic . It's since deployed to Libya, Mali and had a short-lived intervention in Mozambique.
"In exchange for access to natural resources – principally diamonds and gold – Wagner has provided President Faustin Archange-Touadéra with military and political support, which has proven pivotal in sustaining his embattled presidency against an onslaught of rebel groups," the report says. The report says a Wagner-linked company received licences to mine gold across the CAR, including at the Ndassima gold mine.
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