Wagner in Africa: how mercenaries make money from gold

Russian mercenaries continue to make billions of dollars from African gold and other resources, while supporting military dictatorships and circumventing international sanctions. The Transparency International Russia team has published a new study that shows how Wagner in Africa turned resource extraction into a tool of influence and war.

Wagner in Africa: gold, war and power

The report details how the Wagner PMC and its associated companies are taking over gold mines, displacing local miners from a position of strength and creating illegal trade flows through the United Arab Emirates, the world's largest hub for African gold. These resources make it possible to bypass sanctions, finance wars and strengthen Russia’s position in Africa.

“This is not just a story about mercenaries and their business,” says the report’s author, Gleb Golubkov. “This is a systems model where military operations and resource control work together to serve Russia's political and financial interests.”

Among the key findings of the study:

• CAR : Wagner mercenaries supported President Touadera, gaining control of gold and diamond mines. More than 900 civilians have died since 2020 in operations involving them.

• Sudan : Companies linked to Wagner made more than $1.9 billion from gold exports, using political instability to expand their influence.

• Mali : Mercenaries received contracts for military services, but never gained significant access to resource extraction.

The study also describes how, after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner's African assets came under the direct control of the Russian Ministry of Defense, but the group's operating model remained the same: a combination of violence, treaties with dictators and shady resource export schemes.

Why is this important

Wagner's presence in Africa is not just about making money from the war. This is a tool of influence that allows Russia to strengthen its position in unstable regions and finance armed conflicts, despite international sanctions.

For additional information, as well as questions about organizing interviews and comments, you can contact PR specialist of Transparency International - Russia Ivan Korzh by mail: [email protected]

Download the report

“Gold and crossbows”: a new report from TI-Russia about Wagner mercenaries in Africa