Several hundred “experienced” fighters from the Wagner Group have arrived in the Central African Republic to “ensure security” ahead of a July 30 referendum, the group linked to Russian paramilitary forces said on Sunday.

Wagner’s mercenariesPhoto: French Army / AP / Profimedia

“Another plane has arrived in Bangui with instructors who will work in the Central African Republic. The intended rotation continues. Several hundred experienced Wagner professionals are joining the team working in the Central African Republic,” the Community of International Security Officers (COSI) reported on Telegram on Sunday, reports France-Presse and Agerpres.

“Russian instructors will continue to assist the Central African Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies in ensuring security until the constitutional referendum scheduled for July 30,” the statement said.

Along with the statement, COSI released a photo showing at least 30 people in military uniform lined up on the airport’s runway.

According to the US, COSI is a front company of the Wagner group in the Central African Republic. It is headed by Russian Oleksandr Ivanon, against whom American sanctions have been imposed since January.

The Bangui authorities assured that the activities of the mercenary group “will continue”

In a statement published on Sunday, COSI said its instructors had been training the Central African security forces for “over five years”, which allowed it to “consolidate the overall level of security” in the country.

In early July, several foreign sources reported that an unspecified number of Wagner PMC mercenaries were leaving the Central African Republic, which the government strongly denied.

The private paramilitary company’s status and future activities remain uncertain following the failed uprising in Russia on June 23 and 24.

But his interventions abroad, especially in Syria, as well as in African countries such as Sudan, the Central African Republic and Mali, have so far not been questioned. After Wagner’s rebellion ended, the Bangui authorities said the mercenary group’s activities would “continue”.