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Russian Wagner mercenaries have allegedly shifted their focus from military operations to controlling gold mines and illegal trade networks in Africa.
Following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary group Wagner has reportedly changed its way of organizing and operating in Africa, transforming itself from a private military force into a network that exerts influence over natural resources and suspected illegal activities.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, former Wagner fighters have strengthened their presence in the Central African Republic, where they operate mainly in remote and isolated areas where central authorities have difficulty establishing full control.
According to these reports, their main base is located near the source of the Ubangi River, while one of the important financial sources for the group has become the trade in tramadol, a painkiller that in some countries has been abused as a stimulant substance.
In addition to suspected drug trafficking activity, former Wagner members have also maintained control over mineral-rich areas, particularly gold mines and other natural resources in the Central African Republic, a country considered among the poorest and most unstable in the world.
Analysts estimate that activities related to the illegal gold trade could provide these networks with income of around $180 million per year, creating a powerful financial source outside the control of state institutions.
After Prigozhin’s failed rebellion against the Kremlin and his death in 2023, Russian authorities took control of many of Wagner’s operations and restructured them under new organizational forms. However, in the Central African Republic, this process proved more complicated.
Hundreds of former Wagner fighters are reported to have maintained influence on the ground, becoming involved in local security structures and continuing control over strategically important areas.
The expansion of the influence of these networks in Africa has raised international concerns about the links between mercenary groups, the exploitation of natural resources and illegal economies in countries where state institutions are weak.
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