‘Wagner’ Funded Through African Gold Extraction, Says Politico

The private military company ‘Wagner,’ reportedly linked to President Vladimir Putin through wealthy businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, is financing its involvement in the Ukraine war through the sale of gold and other valuable resources extracted from the Central African Republic.

This information was reported by Politico, citing a diplomatic cable received from Western officials in the United States. According to the document, the ‘Wagner’ group has significantly expanded its presence in the Central African Republic and has taken control of the extraction of natural resources in the region.

In 2022, ‘Wagner’ reportedly generated more than one billion U.S. dollars in revenue from operations in the Central African Republic. The United States has repeatedly warned that the increasingly active ‘Wagner’ is using the financial resources gained in the Central African Republic to support the Russian government, which is under sanctions.