A monument commemorating the late leader of Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been unveiled in the Central African Republic (CAR). The statue, located in the capital city of Bangui, depicts Prigozhin in bulletproof gear holding a walkie-talkie, standing beside his close associate, Dmitry Utkin, who is armed with an AK-47 rifle.
The Wagner Group has been operating in CAR since 2018 after being invited by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to assist in fighting rebel groups. In addition to security support, Wagner’s subsidiaries have won contracts to operate the country’s gold and diamond mines. While the group is active in several African countries, CAR has become its primary stronghold.
The unveiling of the statue was attended by Defence Minister Rameau Claude Bireau and senior military figures, emphasizing the ongoing bilateral relationship between CAR and Russia. The monument pays tribute to Prigozhin and Utkin, who both perished in a plane crash on August 23, 2023, two months after their failed mutiny in Russia. Although the Kremlin has denied any involvement, speculation over the crash’s cause continues to swirl.
The Wagner Group, now rebranded as Corps Africa, maintains its operations under the Wagner name in CAR. President Touadéra has defended their presence, citing the group’s success in reducing the territorial control of armed rebel groups, which once occupied 80% of the country.
Despite the apparent stabilization in recent years, the CAR remains one of the world’s poorest nations, rich in resources such as diamonds, gold, and oil, yet still struggling with political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Critics accuse Touadéra’s government of exploiting the country’s resources in exchange for Russian military support.
