The Russian private military company PMC Wagner developed mining operations in Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) through a network of front companies and commercial intermediaries. Wagner-linked entities such as Meroe Gold Ltd, Al-Solag Mining Company, Midas Resources SARLU, and Lobaye Invest SARLU reportedly gained access to valuable gold concessions and processing facilities after providing security support to local governments. In Sudan, Meroe Gold operated the al-Ibaidiya gold processing plant. In CAR, Wagner-linked companies took control of the Ndassima gold mine, one of the country’s most valuable deposits. The report argues these operations relied on a broader ecosystem of suppliers, logistics companies, and financial institutions to procure mining equipment, transport materials, and conduct international financial transfers needed to sustain extraction activities.

This dynamic raises concerns about the exploitation of natural resources, lack of transparency in concession transfers, and the risk that mining revenues may fuel conflict or undermine democratic governance. The report emphasizes that global companies, including banks, suppliers, and transport providers, must conduct stronger due diligence and know-your-customer checks to ensure they are not inadvertently enabling operations linked to conflict, corruption, or human rights abuses in the extractive sector.

The Business and Human Rights Centre invited all companies to respond; however, none did. We were unable to contact Meroe Gold Ltd, Al-Solag Mining Company, Midas Resources SARLU, Lobaye Invest SARLU, Mining Industries SARLU, First Industrial Company SAU, M-Invest LLC, Commercial Bank Centrafrique SA, Standard Bank of South Africa, and Sewa Security Services due to the lack of publicly available contact information.