Attacks purportedly carried out by Russian armed groups in gold-mining area of Central African Rep left hundreds dead and sent thousands into Sudan. The violence, attributed by eyewitnesses to Wagner Group mercenaries, whose chief is a close ally of Putin, is further evidence of geostrategic manoeuvring and gold rush in this part of Africa, with Moscow set against UN and France. 14-18 March, Russian armed groups killed civilians from Sudan, Chad, Niger, CAR, 200km west of the border with Sudan. Russians used heavy weapons, attack helicopters, tanks and armed 4-wheel-drive vehicles. What we saw was very brutal and bloody. They used aggressive force and weapons against civilians, including slaughtering traders and miners, as well looting gold and money…they want to expel traditional miners so they can control the gold mining areas in CAR – and then the entire Sahel region. Thousands fled for Sudan, small-scale gold miners losing millions of $US worth of gold and property. With the current war in Ukraine creating an acute need for money and gold reserves, Russian forces are aiming to expel miners in order to smuggle gold and diamonds. The military in Sudan looked to strengthen ties with Moscow. There is wide-ranging conflict over control of gold mining between rebel groups in CAR. This was impacting the entire region, with Russian forces supporting CAR government, now almost completely dependent on Moscow, looking to empty the area of foreigners and locals. Russia will have little means to assist the economic crisis in Sudan beyond supply of weapons, security and political services Wagner Group continues to provide. Middle East Eye
