Russian mercenaries are still in Washington's sights.

Two companies, one located in Russia and the other in the Central African Republic, were sanctioned on Friday March 8 by the United States for their links with the Wagner paramilitary group and their support for Russia's "malicious activities" in the Central African Republic. .

According to a statement from the US Department of the Treasury, the two companies - Bois Rouge and Broker Expert - "played an important role" in assisting the Wagner Group "and, by extension, the activities of the Russian Federation."

They "sought to make financial gains from the illicit extraction of natural resources and provided material and economic support to the Wagner Group and other organizations associated with it."

In a separate statement, the State Department noted that these sanctions illustrate “the United States’ commitment to disrupting Wagner’s harmful and destabilizing presence in Africa.”

"We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to hinder (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's ability to arm and equip his war machine," he said.

Bois Rouge - also known as Bois Rouge SARLU and, since 2022, Wood International Group SARLU - is described as a forest operator based in Bangui and created in 2019.

It is “one of the many companies associated with (Evgueni) Prigojine”, founder and director of the Wagner group who died in a plane crash in 2023, “operating in the Central African Republic, which form a vast malicious network having infiltrated political spheres , economic and information" of the country.

Read alsoIn the Central African Republic, advantage for Moscow and the Wagner group in the standoff with the EU

For its part, the Broker Expert company - also called Limited Liability Company Broker Expert - is based in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

According to US authorities, it "exported goods from several companies associated with Prigozhin, including dozens of shipments of Bois Rouge" as well as vehicles to Sudan and helmets for Wagner's troops in Ukraine.

It was also used, adds the US Treasury, to transport cash to finance harmful activities, particularly in Madagascar.

As a result of these sanctions, all their assets in the United States are frozen and they are prohibited from having commercial exchanges with American people or companies.

Washington has already sanctioned numerous entities and individuals linked to Wagner and other Russian paramilitary groups.

With AFP

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