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Vagner Group in Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on a visit to Russia Nov. 23, 2017. that his country needs protection from the U.S. and could serve as a gateway to Africa for Moscow. Al-Bashir, speaking at the start of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, accused the U.S. of fomenting the conflict in Sudan. Al-Bashir added that "we need protection from the U.S. aggressive actions."

Omar Bashir, who had headed Sudan since 1989, is wanted by the International criminal court over war crimes, including genocide during the war in Sudan's Darfur region. Bashir's wanted status could explain why Kremlin would send PMC fighters, officially not affiliated with the Russian state, in lieu of active Russian servicemen to prop up Sudan's regime.

In March 2018 Znak.com wrote that in the near future the "Wagnerites" are allegedly going to be sent to Sudan. The leader of this country - Omar al-Bashir - is accused by the International Criminal Court of war crimes, in particular of genocide. In 2017, during a visit to Russia, al-Bashir asked President Vladimir Putin for protection from "aggressive US actions."

In Sudan, the partnership between Wagner and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by the junta’s number two, General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, enabled the paramilitary group to profit from illegal gold trafficking. It has also enabled them to organise the transport of the metal straight into the coffers of the Russian state, helping to swell its gold reserves and circumvent Western sanctions. "Wagner is an entity that defends both private and even criminal interests, and it promotes the Russian state’s agenda. The two are inextricably linked," said Niagalé Bagayoko, president of the African Security Sector Network during an interview with FRANCE 24.

The UK government on 20 July 2023 announced a wave of sanctions against individuals and businesses involved with the Wagner Group in Mali, Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan. These measures will limit their financial freedom by preventing UK citizens, companies and banks from dealing with them, alongside freezing any assets held in the UK and travel bans.

• Andrei Sergeevich Mandel, Director General of M-Invest which in itself is responsible for action which threatens the peace, stability and security of Sudan
• M-Invest, a company serving as a front for the Wagner Group, for threatening the peace and security of Sudan. M-invest has previously advised the Sudanese government on disinformation campaigns to discredit pro-civilian government protestors
• Meroe Gold, a mining subsidiary of M-Invest, for threatening the peace, stability and security of Sudan. Meroe Gold has imported equipment to Sudan including weapons, helicopters and military trucks
• Mikhail Potepkin, Regional Director of M-Invest and Director of Meroe Gold, for threatening the peace and stability in Sudan. Potepkin is associated with the Wagner Group. He worked to ensure planes hired by Meroe Gold could continue operate domestically and internationally whilst being undetected by commercial aviation radars
• Al-Solag Mining, for threatening the peace, stability and security of Sudan by its association with Meroe Gold (and for its attempts to avoid existing Western sanctions and Sudanese regulations)

In Sudan, the Wagner Group has been supplying Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces with surface-to-air missiles to fight against Sudan’s army, contributing to a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region.