Alexander Ivanov, one of Wagner’s main lieutenants, responded on July 17, 2023 to ” rumors of forced sale of business activities linked to Evgueni Prigojine in Africa “. ” Rumors following the paramilitary group’s failed rebellion against Moscow on June 24. In a message posted on Telegram, he notably assured that “ companies associated with Russian investments continue to operate in the Central African Republic. Explanations.
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While the fate of Wagner and his leader Yevgeny Prigozhin are still in the balance in Moscow, the group of Russian mercenaries claims that its security and economic activities in the Central African Republic continue.
In a message posted on July 17, 2023 on the Telegram channel of the Community of Officers for International Security (Cosi), one of Prigojine’s main lieutenants assures that Wagner’s businesses continue to operate. But he leaks concerns and criticisms of the Russian authorities.
” The integration of Russian companies in Africa is mainly the achievement of Yevgeny Prigozhin »
Alexander Ivanov says he wants to answer the many questions he is asked about ” rumors of forced sale of commercial activities related to Yevgeny Prigozhin in Africa “, in particular his ” active in mining “. ” I hope they will not be confirmed or affect the Russian presence on the continent he writes. ” The deep integration of Russian companies in Africa is mainly Yevgeny Prigozhin’s achievement, and could end in an inglorious way. It’s bad, because there were still great prospects “, according to him.
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Alexander Ivanov also allows himself a criticism of the Russian government: “ I hope that the next Russia-Africa forum [prévu à Saint-Pétersbourg les 27 et 28 juillet, Ndlr] will be less glamorous and much more effective than that of 2019. »
” Companies associated with Russian investments continue to operate »
As for the Central African Republic, the head of the Cosi assures that there is no change in the cooperation: ” Companies associated with Russian investments continue to operate, humanitarian structures created with Russia are open, the Russian House is functioning “, he adds, in reference to this institute whose director, Dimitri Sityi, head of information activities of the group in Bangui, would have left the Central African Republic last week according to the newspaper The world.
Among the main companies linked to Wagner operating in the CAR: Lobaye invest, Midas ressources, Diamville or Bois rouge, control whole sections of the gold, diamond and timber sectors.
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On the security level, Alexander Ivanov affirms that ” the work of the instructors continues and the necessary staff rotations are underway »
COSI said on July 16 that “ several hundred experienced fighters » had arrived in Bangui to secure the July 30 referendum, which could not be confirmed by an independent source.
Two weeks ago, reports had reported the departure of several hundred mercenaries, for undetermined reasons.