Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian authorities took control of his military company, "Wagner." However, his son, Pavel Prigozhin, managed to retain control over the fighters in the Central African Republic (CAR) and expand his father's business, profiting from gold, arms, and drugs.
Control Over Wagner Fighters in CAR
Pavel Prigozhin's ability to maintain influence over the "Wagner" group was facilitated by the support of CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Touadéra requested the Kremlin not to replace Wagner mercenaries with military personnel from the Russian Ministry of Defense, allowing Prigozhin to continue the company's operations in the region.
Integration into Local Structures
The CAR president integrated Wagner fighters into various state structures, enabling the group to expand its capabilities. Specifically, the mercenaries became part of:
- the police
- the army
- intelligence units
This integration allowed Prigozhin not only to preserve the business but also to grow it, profiting from various illegal operations in the region.