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Wagner Mercenaries Gun Down 11 Villagers at Russian-Run African Gold Mine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
At least 11 people were shot dead at a gold mine in the Central African Republic (CAR) controlled by Russia’s Wagner Group, according to a report by the Associated Press citing local residents and humanitarian workers.
The incident occurred on the evening of July 16 at the Ndassima gold mine, located about 450 kilometers east of the capital, Bangui.
The mine, the country’s only industrial-scale gold site, was seized during the 2013 civil war and later taken over by Wagner forces. Access to the site is prohibited for local residents.
Witnesses say the victims were villagers searching for leftover gold and gravel when they were killed without warning. One of the residents, Serge Pounematchi, confirmed that his son was among the dead and helped bury the victims. “The right to life does not seem to exist,” he told AP.
Two humanitarian workers, who spoke anonymously due to safety concerns, confirmed the victims were young people from nearby villages and said most were fatally shot. Another villager, Konstantin Pounoukouzou, said some residents remain missing, adding that unemployed youth in the region often resort to searching the mine at night for gravel to sell.
Authorities in CAR have not commented on the shooting, and local officials have not responded to requests for information.
The Wagner Group has been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in the Central African Republic, where its forces were deployed under agreements to support the government against rebel groups and to help stabilize the country.
Wagner operatives have also served as personal security for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and reportedly supported him during the 2023 constitutional referendum, which removed presidential term limits.
Earlier this month, open-source analysts reported that Russia has quietly deployed around 5,000 troops across eight African countries, including Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
The force, known as the “African Corps,” includes former Wagner fighters and operates under the Russian Defense Ministry, securing key mining sites and infrastructure to support Moscow’s war economy.
