Wagner's future in the Central African Republic without Prigozhin

The facility and its activities stand in stark contrast to the private military's role as a proxy for the Russian government and are emblematic of the obstacles President Vladimir Putin must overcome to regain control.

After Prigozhin’s June coup and the plane crash that led to his death, the Russian government has taken bold steps to regroup Prigozhin’s African empire, which includes thousands of soldiers and a host of businesses that wield soft power like this cultural center.

As the Kremlin tries to rein in Wagner’s vast commercial network, the future of the organization remains unclear. But the future of the Central African Republic, one of its earliest clients, rests in Bangui, where the Russian government is bolstering Wagner’s operations and continuing to leverage its influence. And that seems to be Moscow’s message: Business will continue as usual.

Russian influence is everywhere in the country. At roadside stands, people drink Africa Ti L'Or beer and Wa-Na-Wa vodka, both produced by a Wagner company, while Russian-supplied fighter jets fly overhead.

Photo: CNN.

At the cultural center, Russian flags fluttered. Outside, a carousel with an onion dome rotated in the center's forecourt.

“Maison Russe is the hub for all Wagner activities in the Central African Republic,” said Nathalia Dukhan, a senior investigator at The Sentry, a US-based nonprofit that closely tracks Wagner’s activities in the Central African Republic.

According to The Sentry, the center hosts a variety of Wagner-related business activities – the organization uses the center to sell gold and diamonds as well as host VIPs. They hold events there to “spread Russian culture and promote a pro-Moscow view of international relations.”

Wagner mercenaries have been operating in the Central African Republic since 2018, protecting President Faustin-Archange Touadera and training new army recruits. Wagner soldiers have fought rebels in the decade-long civil war and have also expanded Russia’s influence in the resource-rich country. Wagner has won a series of mining concessions for minerals such as gold and diamonds in the country and is also heavily involved in the logging industry.

Photo: CNN.

Maison Russe is listed as a business in Bangui but is not linked to Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia's state agency that operates Russian cultural institutions around the world , said All Eyes on Wagner, a Wagner watchdog group.

“Maison Russe is a prime example of how Wagner has become a representative of the Russian government.” The center serves the interests of Wagner and Russia: “Promoting Wagner beer through special events, promoting Wagner companies, catering to Mr. Prigozhin and inviting delegations from the Russian Ministry of Defense to speak about military cooperation between Russia and the Central African Republic.”

According to the European Commission, the center has long been run by Dmitry Syty, a former senior member of Mr. Prigozhin’s staff who played a “key role” in the Central African Republic for Wagner.

However, Mr Syty, who is under sanctions from the European Union and the United States for alleged “serious violations of human rights” and survived an assassination attempt in December 2022, may have been replaced.

Local media have reported that a new director has replaced him at Maison Russe and refer to her as Nafisa. She appeared in a photograph of Mr Prigozhin on his last visit to the Central African Republic but there is currently no evidence to suggest she was involved with Wagner before April.

Getting into Maison Russe is difficult. Western media are not allowed on the premises, and CNN's requests to film there have been repeatedly denied by the new director.

When a group of reporters showed up at the center with hidden cameras, she introduced herself as Nafisa Kiryanova.

Photo: All Eyes on Wagner/Twitter.

According to social media and related records, CNN discovered that she also goes by another name: Anfisa Alexandrovna Kiryanova. A YouTube channel linked to her shows that just nine months ago, she was still posting videos reviewing cosmetics. In a resume posted online, she said she worked as a translator and studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris and the Russian International Language University.

She welcomed CNN and gave a brief introduction to the center. In three tents outside the center, some Russian language classes are being held and a cinema room is showing Russian films.

A masked man, who appeared to be a Wagner soldier, walked past the tent toward the parking lot behind the center. Kiryanova would not confirm the man's identity or allow CNN into the restricted area he entered.

When CNN asked about her appearance in a photo of Mr. Prigozhin, she seemed evasive and asked: “Can you show me?” After seeing the photo, she reluctantly admitted it.

Referring to Prigozhin's visit and Wagner's future in the Central African Republic, she insisted that his death would not affect Russia's mission in the country.

“Suppose your president dies, what will change? Will your country cease to exist? The mission will continue, the mission of spreading Russian culture will continue.”

Photo: CNN.

Asked who runs the center, Ms. Kiryanova said Mr. Syty “is responsible for running the mission and he also runs a number of other activities.”

Syty and Wagner’s security adviser to President Touadera, Vitali Perfilev (who has also been sanctioned by the EU and the US), were among the key Wagner figures still in the Central African Republic as of last week. An official, who asked not to be named, said the two had returned to Moscow and returned, suggesting they may have signed new contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Both men have not appeared in public in recent months and have repeatedly declined CNN's interview requests.

Wagner left its mark in the Central African Republic with just 1,000 soldiers, the official said. Now, the Russian government has begun an organizational restructuring aimed at reducing Wagner’s operating costs in the Central African Republic. The goal is twofold: to force the soldiers to sign new contracts and to withdraw them to concentrate control over major population centers.

In July and August, IL-76 transport planes took turns bringing soldiers to Moscow to sign contracts, of which 150 soldiers have not yet returned to Moscow.

There are signs that Russia is regrouping troops across the capital.

Photo: CNN.

Wagner soldiers move around Bangui in unmarked trucks, either green or sand-brown. They navigate the streets and shop in grocery stores, wearing balaclavas while buying biscuits, bananas, Coca-Cola. Wagner demands that they keep their faces covered at all times, even during normal activities.

Despite the failed coup and the death of Mr. Prigozhin thousands of miles to the north, relations between the Central African Republic and Russia have not changed much, said Mr. Fidèle Gouandjika, an adviser to President Touadera.

Photo: Sebastian Shukla/CNN.

CNN met Mr. Gouandjika at his villa. Tall and with a gray beard, he wore a shirt with the words “Je Suis Wagner”—French for “I am Wagner”—and he claimed that Mr. Prigozhin had given it to him. “He was a friend, he was my best friend in front of all the Central African people.”

“The Russians gave us peace. We are very happy that Mr. Prigozhin in a short time (just one year) pushed back the rebels and our army controlled 100% of our country.”

Mr. Gouandjika said that Mr. Putin recently discussed with Mr. Touadera and affirmed: “Everything will be the same as yesterday. The situation will be better tomorrow, and the day after that. We have no regrets.”

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/tuong-lai-cua-wagner-tai-cong-hoa-trung-phi-khi-khong-co-ong-prigozhin-a627293.html