US Imposes Sanctions on Firms in Central African Republic Linked to Russian Wagner Group
The United States has taken action against two companies in the Central African Republic (CAR) believed to have ties to the Russian Wagner Group. The US Treasury Department stated that these sanctions are part of a larger effort to combat Russia’s disruptive influence in Africa.
According to the Treasury Department, Mining Industries and Logistique Economique Etrangere were sanctioned for their roles in supporting Wagner security operations and illegal mining activities. Mining Industries, for example, was accused of leasing aircraft used by Wagner to transport personnel and equipment across Africa.
Treasury official Brian Nelson condemned the exploitation of the Central African Republic’s resources by the Russia-backed Wagner Group. The US remains committed to using sanctions to disrupt entities that assist Russia in destabilizing Africa.
In a separate development, the US government formally designated the Wagner Group as a “transnational criminal organization” in 2023, leading to a series of punitive measures against the mercenary force. Human Rights Watch has also documented alleged atrocities committed by Wagner mercenaries in CAR between 2019 and 2021.
The sanctions put in place by the US freeze assets associated with the targeted companies in the country and prohibit any American individuals or entities from engaging in business with them.