US Sanctions Wagner Group's Gold Operations in Africa

The US has imposed sanctions on four firms and one individual connected to the Russian mercenary group, Wagner Group, targeting entities in the Central African Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia. The sanctions are not directly related to last week's uprising but are aimed at degrading the group's revenue streams and preventing its expansion and violence in Africa, Ukraine, and elsewhere. The sanctioned firms engaged in illicit gold deals to fund the Wagner Group's operations, and the UAE has been identified as a potential funding source for the group.