The Wall Street Journal confirmed that the last days of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin before his death saw a lightning visit to African countries, during which he met with African officials, including leaders of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces.
According to the American newspaper, the private plane of Prigozhin landed, last Friday, in Bangui, the capital of the Central African country, where he assured its president, Faustin, Archange Touadéra, according to sources who attended the meeting, that his rebellion in June will not prevent him from recruiting fighters to support his partners in Central Africa, and in the African continent.
The Wall Street Journal explained that shortly after that meeting, a Wagner helicopter landed near where Prigogin was, carrying five commanders of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces.
The Sudanese group came to Bangui from the Darfur region with a gift to Prigogin, gold bars sourced from mines that Wagner forces had helped secure in western Sudan.
The Wall Street Journal quoted an informed source as saying that Prigozhin addressed the RSF delegation by saying "I want more gold," adding, "I will work hard to ensure your victory over them," referring to the grinding war against Sudanese army forces.
The export of Sudanese gold to Russia was one of the main sources of wealth for Wagner and its late leader.
It said the number of Wagner troops on the continent could reach about 5,<> fighters.