Treasury Sanctions Wagner Group-linked Companies in the Central African Republic

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continues to counter Russia’s destabilizing activities in Africa by sanctioning two companies that are linked to the Private Military Company “Wagner” (Wagner Group). Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for enabling Wagner Group security operations and Wagner Group-linked illicit mining endeavors in the Central African Republic (CAR).Since its arrival in CAR in late 2017, the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and companies formerly controlled by the now-deceased Yevgeny Prigozhin have established a vast security and business network in CAR, among other African counties.