A statue honoring Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, has been unveiled in Bangui, Central African Republic. This event highlights the ongoing relationship between CAR and Russia, particularly through Wagner’s military and economic involvement in the region. The monument commemorates the group’s controversial role in assisting the CAR government against rebel groups and controlling valuable resource exploitation.
The unveiling of a statue dedicated to the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner Group, took place in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui. The statue, displaying Prigozhin in bullet-proof gear holding a walkie-talkie, stands alongside that of his associate, Dmitru Utkin, who holds an AK-47 rifle. The presence of Wagner fighters in CAR has been significant since 2018, when they were invited by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to assist in combating rebel factions and later engaged in resource extraction operations, particularly in gold and diamond mining.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Defence Minister Rameau Claude Bireau, underscoring the monument’s importance in the bilateral relations between CAR and Russia. Prigozhin and Utkin tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in August 2023, an incident that followed a failed mutiny in Russia. Following their deaths, Wagner has been rebranded as Corps Africa, yet it maintains its operations under the historic name in CAR.
President Touadéra has publicly defended the Wagner Group’s involvement in the country, attributing positive changes in security dynamics to their presence. While the country grapples with instability and poverty amidst its wealth in natural resources, the statue of Prigozhin adds to the pre-existing acknowledgment of Russian military presence in the region, exemplified by another statue in Bangui.
Despite a reduction in violence in recent years, underlying tensions persist, with critics arguing that the Russian mercenaries support the government in exchange for access to CAR’s rich resources. Prigozhin established the Wagner Group in 2014, expanding its operations from the Middle East and Africa into Ukraine in 2022.
The Central African Republic has long been beset by instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Despite its wealth in natural resources, including diamonds and gold, the nation is categorized as one of the poorest globally. The Wagner Group’s involvement in CAR began in 2018 when they were invited by the government to help tackle ongoing rebel conflicts. Their operations have extended beyond military assistance to include control over lucrative mining contracts, reinforcing their significant influence in the region. The recent unveiling of Prigozhin’s statue illustrates the ongoing integration of Russian presence in the CAR public narrative and governance.
The installation of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s statue in Bangui signifies the deepening ties between the Central African Republic and Russia through the Wagner Group’s military and economic contributions. While the presence of Russian mercenaries has reportedly aided in stabilizing parts of the country, it also raises concerns regarding the exploitation of natural resources and the precarious alliance between the government and foreign mercenaries. As the nation continues to navigate its complex socio-political landscape, the legacy of Prigozhin and the Wagner Group remains profoundly impactful.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
