The US announced new sanctions targeting the Wagner Group’s gold-mining activities in Africa as part of a bid to hamper the mercenary group’s ability to fund itself, days after it mounted a mutiny against President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
The sanctions targeted Midas Ressources SARLU, a mining company in Central African Republic affiliated with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Treasury Department said. Also targeted was Diamville SAU, a gold and diamond purchasing company controlled by Prigozhin, Treasury said.
Two other companies and a Russian national identified as a Wagner Group executive were also targeted Tuesday.
“Treasury’s sanctions disrupt key actors in the Wagner Group’s financial network and international structure,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.