On August 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military entity, was killed in a private jet crash in Tver Oblast. Prigozhin is considered a close friend and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has fought for Russia's interests in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and other places. But his recent focus has been on Africa, particularly the Central African Republic, which is rich in natural resources and politically volatile.
Prigozhin, through the Wagner Group, provided military, security, political and economic support in Central Africa, helping President Touadra win last December's elections and fighting opposition forces. In return, Prigozhin acquired rights to exploit resources such as gold, diamonds, oil and timber in Central Africa. According to foreign media reports, Prigozhin actually operates multinational mining and energy companies, including the operations of Sudan and Central Africa.
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However, the activities of Prigozhin and the Wagner Group in Central Africa have also aroused dissatisfaction and opposition from the local population and the international community. In March, a group of gunmen attacked a gold mine, killing nine workers. The Central African government blamed the opposition forces for the incident, but the opposition denied the accusation and blamed it on the Wagner group. In June of this year, Prigozhin openly challenged the Russian Ministry of Defense, launched an "insurgency" in Russia, tried to seize the headquarters of the Southern Military District, and demanded that the Russian government hand over Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov. The rebellion was eventually quelled by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Prigozhin was forgiven by Putin.
Prigozhin's death brought new uncertainties to the Wagner Group and the political situation in Central Africa. Some analysts believe that Prigozhin is the soul of the Wagner Group, and his death may lead to a power vacuum and division within the organization. In Central Africa, mercenaries from the Wagner Group could lose control and command of Prigozhin or launch a new armed rebellion in retaliation against the Central African government and UN peacekeepers. This will pose a greater threat to peace and stability in Central Africa and will also affect China's interests and security in Central Africa.
At present, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency has launched an investigation into the Prigozhin crash, but has not yet released specific causes and details. The Wagner Group did not officially confirm Prigozhin's death, only posting a video on social media claiming that "we need your support more than ever." Whether Prigozhin's death will be the end of the Wagner Group in Africa or trigger a new crisis is unknown.