The sanctions are intended to “counter Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa,” the US Treasury Department says.
The United States has sanctioned two companies in the Central African Republic (CAR) that it says are linked to the Russian Wagner Group, as part of what the US government says is an effort to “counter Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa” .
In a statement Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department accused Mining Industries and Logistique Economique Etrangere of enabling Wagner security operations and “illicit mining efforts” linked to the mercenary force.
The department said Mining Industries was sanctioned for renting planes from another sanctioned Emirati company that Wagner used to transport personnel and equipment across Africa.
Logistique Economique Etrangere was sanctioned for receiving “hundreds” of shipments of heavy materials from another company based in the Central African Republic (which was sanctioned in March this year) that were also likely destined for illicit mining activities linked to Wagner, it said. .
“The Russian-backed Wagner Group and its network of companies have exploited the people and natural resources of the Central African Republic to advance the group's agenda,” Treasury official Brian Nelson said in the statement.
“The United States will continue to use its sanctions authorities to disrupt those who support Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa.”
In 2023, US President Joe Biden's administration formally labeled the Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization,” unveiling a wave of sanctions against the mercenary force.
In 2022, Human Rights Watch also accused Wagner mercenaries of having “summarily executed, tortured, and beaten civilians” in the Central African Republic between 2019 and 2021.
The group was previously controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin until his death in a plane crash last August.
The US sanctions imposed on Thursday freeze the assets of the targeted entities in the country and prevent any US citizen or entity from doing business with them.
