Central African Republic Inaugurates a Statue in Tribute to Yevgeny Prigozhin, Former Patron of Wagner

An Official Inauguration in Bangui

A monument to Yevgeny Prigozhin , former leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, was unveiled Tuesday in Bangui, the Central African capital. The statue, erected in front of the Russian House, shows Prigozhin in bronze, wearing a bulletproof vest with a walkie-talkie and magazines. Beside him, his right-hand man, Dmitry Utkin , is shown holding a Kalashnikov. The two men died together on August 23, 2023 , in a plane crash, two months after their aborted mutiny in Russia.

Wagner: A Persistent Influence in Central Africa

In the Central African Republic, unlike in other African countries where Wagner’s operations have been restructured under the name “Africa Corps ,” Russian paramilitaries have retained strong influence since their deployment in 2018 at the request of President Faustin Archange Touadéra . In exchange for their military support, particularly against rebel groups, Wagner has obtained lucrative concessions in the gold and diamond sectors for its subsidiaries.

A Highly Symbolic Ceremony

The inauguration of the statue took place in the presence of senior Central African officials, such as the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. According to a statement published on the Facebook account of the national police, this event is part of bilateral cooperation between Russia and the Central African Republic .

Contrasting Reactions within the Population

Local opinions are divided:

• For Élysée Bafolo , a young real estate agent, this celebration is justified. “Russians must be celebrated for their efforts in our country. I invite other African countries to follow this example to honor Prigozhin and the Russians,” he said.
• On the other hand, Trésor Yazimango , a project manager at a local NGO, expressed skepticism. “CAR is a sovereign country, we don’t need these statues. If the Russians really wanted to develop the country, they should have invested in roads and infrastructure,” he said.

Cooperation Under Fire

Wagner’s prolonged presence in the Central African Republic has been controversial. On the one hand, it has been praised for its role in restoring security; on the other, it has been criticized for the economic advantages granted to the Russian group, sometimes to the detriment of national priorities.

Conclusion: A Highly Political Inauguration

The statue of Yevgeny Prigozhin reflects the close relationship between the Central African Republic and Russia, but polarizes public opinion. While some see the tribute as a deserved recognition of Russian efforts to stabilize the country, others see it as political instrumentalization. The controversy illustrates the ongoing tensions surrounding foreign influence in African national affairs.