The United States imposed sanctions against 2 companies in the Central African Republic for aiding the Wagner PMC

The United States on Thursday, May 30, imposed sanctions on two organizations based in the Central African Republic (CAR) for “aiding the destabilizing activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner group.” in Africa.”

In a statement, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted that Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU played a "vital role" in illegal mining in the Central African Republic, carried out by the PMC “Wagner”, is broadcast by the “Voice” of America.

“The Russian group “Wagner” committed large-scale human rights violations and misappropriated natural resources in many African countries, Miller emphasized in a statement. As a proxy military force for the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has conducted combat operations around the world, including in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.
The new sanctions were also announced by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

"The Russian-backed group “Wagner” and its network of enterprises exploit the people and natural resources of the Central African Republic to further their goals– said Treasury Undersecretary for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. – The United States will continue to use its sanctions authority to target those who support Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa.

According to the Treasury Department, the Wagner Group uses aircraft leased by Mining Industries to move personnel and equipment throughout the Central African Republic and other regions of Africa. In addition, Mining Industries imported chemicals used in the mining industry.

Logistique Economique Etrangere – a company based in the Central African Republic that in 2021 received hundreds of shipments of heavy materials from Broker Expert LLC (already under sanctions), a Russian company linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin that supported Russian interests in Ukraine and throughout Africa.

< p>Prepared by: Sergey Daga