A monument honoring Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late founder of Russia’s Wagner Group, and his deputy Dmitry Utkin, has been unveiled in the Central African Republic (CAR). The statue, situated in the capital city of Bangui, commemorates both men, who died in a plane crash on August 23, 2023, near Moscow.
The monument depicts Prigozhin wearing bulletproof clothing and holding a walkie-talkie, while Utkin, his close associate, stands beside him clutching an AK-47 rifle. The unveiling ceremony was attended by CAR’s Defence Minister Rameau Claude Bireau and senior military officials.
The Wagner Group has operated in CAR since 2018, following an invitation from President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to assist in combating rebel forces. Since their arrival, Wagner-affiliated companies have secured lucrative contracts to manage gold and diamond mining operations.
A statement from the CAR national police described the monument as a symbol of the “bilateral relationship” between CAR and Russia. This relationship has seen Wagner’s influence grow, with CAR serving as a key base for the group’s African operations.
Despite the plane crash and the failed mutiny against the Russian government two months prior, the Wagner Group remains active in CAR under the new name Corps Africa, though it continues to be referred to as Wagner locally. President Touadéra has defended the group’s continued presence, crediting them with restoring stability.
“Previously, 80% of the territory was controlled by armed groups. Today, thanks to this cooperation, those figures have been completely reversed,” President Touadéra told the BBC in December 2023.
Russia’s influence in CAR was already symbolized by an earlier monument in Bangui depicting Russian soldiers protecting a woman and her children. This growing presence has sparked criticism, with detractors accusing President Touadéra’s government of exchanging natural resources for military support.
CAR, despite being rich in diamonds, gold, oil, and uranium, remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the nation has endured ongoing instability, though recent years have seen a reduction in violence, albeit with occasional clashes between rebels and the Wagner-backed national army.
Prigozhin founded Wagner in 2014, initially focusing on operations in the Middle East and Africa before shifting attention to Ukraine in 2022. Despite the controversies surrounding Wagner, its role in CAR continues to shape the country’s political and security landscape.
