P1 - The Wagner Group in Sudan
Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime
English - April 17, 2023 16:15 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBNews Commentary News Government Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Part 1: “Who are these guys and what are they doing here?”
In late February 2022, Airport workers in Khartoum International Airport in Sudan are stood glued to television screens, watching Russian tanks entering the outskirts of Kyiv in Ukraine. But just outside on the runway, a Russian cargo plane laden with cookies was about to take off, heading to Latakia on the coast of Syria.
Earlier that day, officials had inspected the aircraft, suspicious of the cargo manifest. It turned out they were right to be suspicious, because hidden under the cookies was gold. A ton of gold. But the military arrived and the plane was waived through.
Gold is Sudan’s largest export, although 80% of that is thought to be smuggled out of the country. The industry has a number of players, including the Rapid Support Forces who are currently locked in battle with its rival the Sudanese Armed Forces . But there is also another active group that works alongside both these two forces and has its eyes firmly on Sudanese gold - the Wagner Group.
Speaker(s):
Kholood Khair - the Founder and Director of Confluence Advisory, Khartoum.
Ken Opala, the Field Network Coordinator for East and Southern Africa, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.
Mohanad Hashim, freelance Sudanese journalist, currently working at the BBC.
Justin Lynch, researcher, and author of Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy.
Additional Reading:
(GI Paper)The grey zone: Russia's military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa
(GI Paper) Going for Gold: Russia, sanctions and illicit gold trade
'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war Yevgeny Prigozhin: UK reviews rules after Wagner head sued journalist
UK exposes sick Russian troll factory plaguing social media with Kremlin propaganda
Wagner chief admits to founding Russian troll farm sanctioned for meddling in US elections
Ukraine capital Kyiv endures Russian onslaught - BBC News
Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine
Sudan TV broadcast taken off air after loud bangs during military clashes
CNN - How Russia could be stealing over $13 billion of gold a year from Sudan
Part 1: “Who are these guys and what are they doing here?”
In late February 2022, Airport workers in Khartoum International Airport in Sudan are stood glued to television screens, watching Russian tanks entering the outskirts of Kyiv in Ukraine. But just outside on the runway, a Russian cargo plane laden with cookies was about to take off, heading to Latakia on the coast of Syria.
Earlier that day, officials had inspected the aircraft, suspicious of the cargo manifest. It turned out they were right to be suspicious, because hidden under the cookies was gold. A ton of gold. But the military arrived and the plane was waived through.
Gold is Sudan’s largest export, although 80% of that is thought to be smuggled out of the country. The industry has a number of players, including the Rapid Support Forces who are currently locked in battle with its rival the Sudanese Armed Forces . But there is also another active group that works alongside both these two forces and has its eyes firmly on Sudanese gold - the Wagner Group.
Speaker(s):
Kholood Khair - the Founder and Director of Confluence Advisory, Khartoum.
Ken Opala, the Field Network Coordinator for East and Southern Africa, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.
Mohanad Hashim, freelance Sudanese journalist, currently working at the BBC.
Justin Lynch, researcher, and author of Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy.
Additional Reading:
(GI Paper)The grey zone: Russia's military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa
(GI Paper) Going for Gold: Russia, sanctions and illicit gold trade
'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war Yevgeny Prigozhin: UK reviews rules after Wagner head sued journalist
UK exposes sick Russian troll factory plaguing social media with Kremlin propaganda
Wagner chief admits to founding Russian troll farm sanctioned for meddling in US elections
Ukraine capital Kyiv endures Russian onslaught - BBC News
Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine
Sudan TV broadcast taken off air after loud bangs during military clashes
CNN - How Russia could be stealing over $13 billion of gold a year from Sudan
Sudan fighting: RSF and army clash in Khartoum for third day
Sudan's military removes President Omar al-Bashir | Al Jazeera English
Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with President of the Republic of the Sudan Omar Al-Bashir
Yevgeny Prigozhin: the hotdog seller who rose to the top of Putin’s war machine
The Chef’s Global Footprints, OCCRP
Sudan defence minister dies of heart attack at Juba peace talks
Hemedti: the feared commander pulling the strings in Sudan
OpenSanctions - Autolex Transport LTD.
Hemetti, senior Russian official agree to strengthen military cooperation
Sudan: Darfur: “Too many people killed for no reason”
“Men With No Mercy”: Rapid Support Forces Attacks against Civilians in Darfur, Sudan
The Organized Crime Index - Sudan
“They Were Shouting ‘Kill Them’”: Sudan’s Violent Crackdown on Protesters in Khartoum
RSF declare firm commitment to the formation of single army in Sudan
Factbox: Who are Sudan's Rapid Support Forces?
Sudan's army declares paramilitary RSF 'rebel' group
SUDAN: Hemeti says troops were forced into a confrontation with the Sudanese army
Sudanese army warns against military escalation after RSF deployment in Merowe
Exchange of gunfire heard in northern Sudanese city of Merowe - witnesses
Al Jazeera - Breaking News: Heavy gunfire heard in Sudan’s capital Khartoum
Global Witness - Exposing the RSF's secret financial network
Sudan crisis: The ruthless mercenaries who run the country for gold
Facebook Watch - حميدتي الجزء الخامس
Radio Dabanga - Secret financial network of Sudan’s main militia exposed
The Rapid Support Forces: A Comprehensive Profile
Reuters - Exclusive: Sudan militia leader grew rich by selling gold
Global Witness - Leaked Documents
Sudan Activists Stand Firm Against 'Toxic, Monopolistic' Mining Practices
Heap Leach: Mining’s breakthrough technology
YouTube - 'Sudan 300000 ton per year Heap Leaching for gold tailing'
A Case Report on Cyanidation of Gold Heap Tailings at Agbash Mine in South Darfur State (Sudan)
Sudan activists stand firm against ‘toxic, monopolistic’ mining practices
About 11 civilians killed across Sudan after SAF-RSF clashes
EU imposes sanctions on Sudan’s Meroe gold company
Sudan Looks to Gold to Boost Economy, Denies Russian Smuggling
Blood and gold: Now Sudan's land wars have spread to mining
Sudan: Minerals Ministry Signs Agreement With Miro Gold of Russia
Treasury Targets Financier’s Illicit Sanctions Evasion Activity
Darfur village left reeling from Wagner Group's CAR massacre
Documents Reveal Wagner’s Golden Ties to Sudanese Military Companies, OCCRP
The U.S. wants to counter China’s moves in Africa. But American officials try not to mention that.
Sudan News Agency - موتمر صحفي : دقلو والهادي ادريس بمطار الخرطوم بعد عودتهم من ولايات دافور
Hemeti's CAR coup boast sheds light on Sudanese role in conflict next door
Sudan paramilitary funnelling weapons into Central African Republic, UN report reveals
Russia confirms security companies training Sudanese army
The Mercenaries Behind Russian Operations in Africa
Russian mercenaries accused of deadly attacks on mines on Sudan-CAR border
Wagner Group Terrorizing Sudanese Gold Miners
Russian mercenaries near Sudan accused of killing hundreds as African gold rush intensifies
Trade Data Reveal Shipments to Sudanese Mining Company Linked to Russian Paramilitary Group
Russians Probed Over Gold in Sudan as West Vies for Influence
CNN Investigation - Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine
More Than 30 Russians Questioned In Sudan Over Gold Smuggling Case
Sudan Aiming to be Africa’s ‘Next Major Gold Mining Destination’
Treasury Sanctions Russian Proxy Wagner Group as a Transnational Criminal Organization
Executive Order 13581--Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations
US Dept. of Treasury - Yamaguchi-gumi
US Dept. of Treasury - The Kinahan Organized Crime Group
EU - Wagner Group: Council adds 11 individuals and 7 entities to EU sanctions lists
Al Jazeera - ‘Angry and enraged’: Sudan's former foreign minister on bombings in Khartoum
Artwork by Paulina Rosol-Barrass