The former militants of “Wagner”, led by Prigozhin’s son, created a drug empire in Africa. WSJ

After Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in 2023 and most of the group’s operations were transferred to Russian state structures, about 500 Wagner fighters remained in the upper reaches of the Ubangi River. The smuggling of the drug “Tramadol” containing psychoactive substances to neighboring countries is an important source of income, which has enabled them to organize illegal trade in timber and gold, the American periodical notes.

According to research by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Prigogine’s former establishment effectively subjugated the Central African Republic by embedding itself in the national army and local gangs. The influence of Russian mercenaries has grown to the point that they supply Tramadol to presidential guard fighters and the Sharks youth militia, which regularly patrols the capital Bangui and beats up opposition supporters, a former Wagner mercenary now living in Europe told the WSJ.

Global Initiative experts warn that the strengthening of Wagner’s positions in the Central African Republic could fuel chaos in neighboring Sudan, where the rebels’ Rapid Reaction Forces are strengthening their positions in coordination with Russian militants.

The African Corps, based on the Wagner of the Russian Ministry of Defense, has been operating in Mali, where the political situation has been unstable since 2012, and after the coups of 2020-21, the military came to power, led by Asimi Goita, who is assisted by the African Corps.