Britain Imposes Sanctions On 13 Wagner Group Commanders And Business Related To Atrocities In Africa

Wagner Group mercenaries arrived with 10 units of BRDM-2 armored vehicles in the Central African Republic. (Wikimedia Commons/UN Security Council)

JAKARTA - British authorities have imposed sanctions on 13 businesses linked to the Russian Wagner Group's group of mercenaries, on charges of involvement in the execution and torture of civilians in African countries.

The sanctions imposed commanders are in Mali, Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR), which together with related businesses have been blacklisted and their assets frozen, the UK Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The head of the Wagner Group's operations in CAR, Konstantin Pikalov, known as Prigozhin's "right hand", was among those mentioned in the latest wave of sanctions, reported by The National News July 21.

Britain has accused him of "responsibility for the torture and killings targeted at civilians carried out by the Wagner Group".

Meanwhile, Wagner's leader at CAR Vitalii Perfilev and his partner at Mali Ivan Maslov, also appeared on the sanctions list.

Maslov's troops along with Mali forces are responsible for the killing of at least 500 people in Moura in March 2022, "including non-court executions as well as rape and torture", Britain said.

Other names include companies and people involved in threatening peace and stability in Sudan, including by spreading propaganda and providing military equipment.

M-Invest, a company "acting as a cover" for Wagner, was sanctioned for carrying out a "disinformation campaign" to benefit the Sudanese government and threatening peace in the country.

These sanctions will limit the financial freedom of registered individuals and companies and prevent British citizens, companies and banks from transacting with them. Any assets they have in the UK will be frozen and travel bans have been issued.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Britain remains deeply concerned about Wagner's destabilization role.

The department further said the group had "cries on the security and economic environment" in the region and exploited natural resources.

British Foreign Ministry's Minister of Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said: "The Wagner group commits atrocities in Ukraine, as well as acts with immunity in countries such as Mali, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.

"Wherever Wagner operates, this company has a bad impact on society, exacerbates existing conflicts, and damages the reputation of the countries that host them," he explained.

"These sanctions expose despicable individuals who have violated international humanitarian law, asking them to be held accountable for the severe damage they cause to innocent civilians for financial gain," he explained.

It is known that the Wagner Group became known internationally after they recruited inmates from Russian prisons to fight in Ukraine. This private military contractor has been operating in Mali, Sudan and CAR for several years.

In addition, the announcement comes a week after Britain announced sanctions against six businesses providing military funds and equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).