More mystery around Wagner’s alcohol business in the Central African Republic

Central African Republic | At the same time when Russia promised to donate 50,000 t of wheat to the CAR by year-end - most likely in an effort to loosen Wagner’s grip on the country - media in the CAR reported the sighting of a large container in Cantonnier, a town some 600 km to the west of the capital on the border with Cameroon.

The container arrived on 20 November with the words Wa Na Wa emblazoned on it. Wa Na Wa is a spirit produced by Wagner and sold in small sachets.

According to the local newssite Corbeaunews, this arrival has given rise to palpable discontent among local traders, many of whom had been evicted by force to make room for whatever is inside the container.

Wagner’s beer market share is small

The contents of the container are unknown, but there is a rumour going round that the private military firm could build a brewery in Cantonnier.

That does not seem likely. Wagner’s large brewery near Bangui, the capital, is running far below capacity. Observers estimate it is on track to produce some 12,000 hl beer this year.

From what we hear, the brewery has major quality issues and locals avoid its beer although it sells at a steep discount to MOCAF’s beers. Owned by France’s Castel,MOCAF has been brewing beer in the CAR for 70 years.

We also hear that MOCAF’s beer sales have not suffered much this year (in 2022 it produced some 250,000 hl beer and 100,000 hl of soft drinks), despite Wagner’s best efforts at marketing its Africa ti L’or beer brand with the tagline “the taste of freedom”.

Sources in Cameroon tell us that the border town of Cantonnier is under control of Cameroonian forces. But as the Wagner mercenaries control the CAR’s border crossings and can act so brazenly in Cantonnier, Cameroonian “control” does not seem to mean much.

Wagner’s future in the CAR

Perhaps recognising the growing resentment in the population and its own precarious status in the CAR, after its top brass fell from the Russian sky in August, Wagner’s local leaders have taken steps to soften the group’s image, The New York Times reported on 26 November.

The Russian cultural centre in Bangui, known as Russia House and run by a senior operative of the Wagner group, Dmitri Sytiy, offers knitting and language lessons, wedding ceremonies and free snacks. There is also an inflatable pool for children.

Per the New York Times, the manager of Russia House, Anfissa Kiryanova, is an amiable woman in her mid-30s. She has emerged as one of the new public faces of the group.

Has Wagner dug in?

The newspaper found out that, for now, Wagner’s leadership has remained largely intact. The Wagner commander Vitali Perfilev and business school graduate Sytyi are still running gold, diamond, and timber concessions in the CAR.

Western observers say that the Wagner Group can likely sustain itself in the CAR in the near term, provided the CAR’s President Touadéra does not seek a rapprochement with Russia or the West.

Others have opined that the remnants of the Wagner Group are likely to splinter into an organisation that more closely resembles a traditional terrorist group, which would operate independently from the Kremlin, pursue its own political goals, find funding, and recruit its own members.