Statue of Wagner founder unveiled in Central African Republic

A statue of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner group, was unveiled in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). This tribute honors Prigozhin and his co-founder Dmitry Utkin, both of whom died in a plane crash in August 2023. The monument reflects the growing ties between CAR and Russia, with the unveiling attended by CAR's defense minister and military officials. Russian mercenaries have been active in CAR since 2018, assisting the government against rebel groups. Following Prigozhin's death, Russia has integrated Wagner forces into a new paramilitary unit called Africa Corps. The statue in Bangui adds to existing monuments honoring Russian military figures in the region.