Pavel Prigojin leads Wagner faction and business network in Africa

Pavel Prigojin, the 28-year-old son of the late Yevgeny Prigojin, has taken command of a faction of the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic. He reportedly oversees approximately 500 mercenaries who provide security for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and engage in combat against insurgents.

Beyond military operations, the network manages a diverse range of business interests, including gold mines, beer, and vodka production. Reports indicate that these activities, which include both legal enterprises and illicit trades such as arms and drug trafficking, generate an estimated $400 million in annual revenue. Pavel Prigojin frequently travels between Saint Petersburg and Bangui, where the group utilizes the Ledger Plaza hotel as an operational hub.