US Sanctions Two Central African Republic Firms for Enabling Wagner Group's Operations

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two firms, Mining Industries and Logistique Economique Etrangere, in the Central African Republic (CAR) for their involvement in supporting the Wagner Group's security operations and illicit mining activities. This move is part of the US efforts to counter Russia's influence in the region.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the sanctioned companies were advancing the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group's operations and illicit mining endeavors in Africa. The Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, has been involved in various conflicts and illicit activities across Africa and Ukraine.

The sanctions target Mining Industries for leasing aircraft from a sanctioned Emirati firm to transport Wagner personnel and equipment. Logistique Economique Etrangere was sanctioned for receiving heavy materials likely intended for Wagner-linked mining activities from another sanctioned CAR-based company.

The US Treasury Department's sanctions on these firms highlight the ongoing efforts to counter Russia's malicious activities globally. This move could have significant implications for the region's stability and security, and also for the global economy.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader and co-founder of the Wagner Group, has close ties to President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin has acknowledged owning the Internet Research Agency, a 'troll factory' in St. Petersburg, which was indicted by the US Justice Department in 2018 for alleged fraud and interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Prigozhin has also been linked to Lobaye Invest, a company that operates gold and diamond mines in the Central African Republic. Although he claimed the company was liquidated three years ago, he acknowledged that it was led by Dmitry Syty, who is involved in geological research in Africa.

The Biden administration designated the Wagner Group a transnational criminal organization in 2023, imposing various sanctions. Human Rights Watch has accused Wagner of serious human rights abuses in CAR from 2019 to 2021, including extrajudicial killings and torture.

The sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department freeze the assets of the targeted entities and ban US business dealings with them. This move is part of a broader effort to counter Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa.

As tensions between the US and Russia continue over the latter's invasion of Ukraine and its activities in Africa, the US has been working to counter Russia's influence in the region. The sanctions on Mining Industries and Logistique Economique Etrangere highlight the US government's commitment to holding accountable those who support Russia's malicious activities.

Key Takeaways

• US Treasury sanctions 2 firms in Central African Republic for supporting Russia's Wagner Group.
• Firms aided Wagner's security ops and illicit mining activities in Africa.
• Sanctions target firms' assets and ban US business dealings with them.
• Move aims to counter Russia's influence and malicious activities in Africa.
• US efforts part of broader strategy to hold accountable those supporting Russia's actions.