The British government announced on Thursday the imposition of sanctions on individuals and entities in three African countries: Libya, the Central African Republic and Mali. This is due to their association with the Russian Wagner mercenary group.
The British Foreign Office explained in a report that the sanctions target three private mercenary groups linked to the Kremlin, including the Africa Corps, and 11 individuals linked to Russian agents, as it put it.
The Foreign Office confirmed that this targeting have direct links to the Kremlin, and have threatened peace and security in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic, and have committed widespread human rights violations across the continent.
It indicated that these sanctions will affect Russian activity, which it described as malicious in the three countries, and expose and combat Russia's illegal activity in Africa, according to its statement.
Russia was accused of trying to exploit fragile security environments and natural resources in these countries to achieve its gains and expand the scope of the Kremlin's influence.
According to the British Foreign Office, the government has also imposed 56 new sanctions on Russia, including citizens linked to the Wagner Group.
