Following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary group Wagner has reportedly changed its structure and activity in Africa, turning from a private military force into a network that controls natural resources and suspected illegal activities.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, remaining Wagner fighters have consolidated their influence in the Central African Republic, where they operate in remote areas and where central authorities have difficulty exercising full control.
According to these reports, their main base is located near the upper reaches of the Ubangi River, while one of the important sources of income has become the trade in tramadol, a painkiller that in some countries is abused as a stimulant substance.
In addition to suspected activity in substance trafficking, former Wagner fighters also control mining areas, particularly gold mines and other natural resources in the Central African Republic, one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world.
Analysts estimate that activities related to the illegal gold trade could bring these networks around $180 million a year, providing them with a major financial source outside of state control.
After Prigozhin’s failed rebellion in Russia and his death in 2023, the Kremlin took control of many of Wagner’s operations and reorganized them under new structures. However, in the Central African Republic, this process proved more difficult.
Hundreds of former Wagner fighters are reported to have maintained their influence on the ground, integrating into local security structures and continuing control over strategic areas.
The growing influence of these groups in Africa has raised international concerns about the link between mercenaries, the exploitation of natural resources, and illegal economies in countries with weak institutions.
