The Elusive Figure Running Wagner's Embattled Empire of Gold and Diamonds

The Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, has been expanding its presence in Africa in recent years, becoming a major player in conflicts in Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic, among other countries. The group is known for its involvement in gold and diamond mining operations in Africa, which have been the target of U.S. sanctions. The group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been linked to the mining operations and has been accused of using the profits to fund the group's activities. The Wagner Group has faced setbacks in recent years, including a mutiny in Russia and a decline in its "mythic appeal" in Africa. However, the group's African kingdom is expected to stay intact, and its influence in the region continues to be watched by the EU1357.

Here are the key bullet points:

• The Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, has been expanding its presence in Africa in recent years, becoming a major player in conflicts in Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic, among other countries1356.
• The group is known for its involvement in gold and diamond mining operations in Africa, which have been the target of U.S. sanctions4.
• The group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been linked to the mining operations and has been accused of using the profits to fund the group's activities1357.
• The Wagner Group has faced setbacks in recent years, including a mutiny in Russia and a decline in its "mythic appeal" in Africa57.
• However, the group's African kingdom is expected to stay intact, and its influence in the region continues to be watched by the EU157.

The Wagner Group's involvement in gold and diamond mining operations in Africa and its expanding presence in the region have raised concerns about the group's activities and the potential for human rights abuses. The group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been accused of using the profits from the mining operations to fund the group's activities, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the mining industry.