The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, operates in Sudan and is actively involved in the ongoing fighting in that country, British daily i reported on Saturday. According to the newspaper, the Wagnerians have good relations with the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), and the purpose of their involvement is access to Sudanese gold, which is to be used to further finance the group’s participation in the war in Ukraine.
According to on-site newspaper sources, including the UK’s intelligence services, armed mercenaries of the Wagner Group were seen in the Red Sea town of Port Sudan, where an evacuation by sea is being carried out. They also participated in the fighting in the vicinity of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum.
Destroyed street in KhartoumPAP/EPA/Indonesian Embassy KBRI Khartoum / HANDOUT
The Wagner group seen near the evacuation curve and near the capital
In Port Sudan, the Wagnerians were seen for the first time on April 19, four days after the outbreak of fighting in the country, the British daily “i” reported. They were to circulate in small boats near a Saudi warship that was evacuating civilians. They were last seen in the city on Wednesday. In turn, another group of mercenaries, also from the Wagner Group, was seen on Monday in Omdurman, adjacent to Khartoum, and was supposed to take part in a firefight that evening, according to an article published by a British newspaper.
British daily: Wagnerians interested in Sudanese gold
As the daily “i” points out, although reports about the interest of the Wagner Group in the conflict in Sudan and the supply of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) participating in the fights with the Sudanese army have appeared before, this is the first time that information has appeared that Russian mercenaries are also directly involved in the fighting.
According to the newspaper, the Wagner Group is believed to have a good relationship with the commander of the RSF, and the purpose of its involvement is access to Sudanese gold, which is to be used to further finance the participation of this private military company in the war in Ukraine.
Daily “i” reports that the UK Ministry of Defense is to monitor the activity of members of the Wagner Group in Sudan, including in Port Sudan. The British government has confirmed that there are British soldiers in the city, who are conducting reconnaissance for evacuation by sea. The British Navy plans to send two ships there to evacuate people who will be taken away by military aircraft.
At least 559 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured in the two-week conflict in Sudan.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/Indonesian Embassy KBRI Khartoum / HANDOUT