Marie-Reine Hassen accuses Wagner of controlling Central African economy
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Corbeau News Centrafrique
Former Central African minister Marie-Reine Hassen has accused the Wagner group of controlling several sectors of the Central African economy, including gold, diamonds, timber, fuel and tramadol. She made the allegations at a conference held at the French Senate, according to Corbeau News Centrafrique.
Marie-Reine Hassen, a former minister of the Central African Republic, accuses the Wagner group of controlling several sectors of the Central African economy, including gold, diamonds, timber, fuel and the food trade. She made the accusations at a conference held at the French Senate, Corbeau News Centrafrique reports.
According to Hassen, Wagner also controls artisanal mines and has confiscated dozens of mining sites after driving out local populations. She describes the Russian group, which the United States has sanctioned as a criminal network, as an organisation that exploits insecurity to strengthen Russia’s influence in Africa.
The former minister also claims that this control extends to the sale of drinks, caterpillars and edible leaves, as well as the import of tramadol. She describes the Central African Republic as a system in which organised crime is present across all sectors of the economy.
