The United Kingdom has taken action against individuals and groups linked to Russia’s Wagner Group, currently operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali, by adding them to its sanctions list. The UK’s foreign ministry made this announcement on Thursday.

The updated sanctions list includes seven new designations under the CAR Sanctions Regime, five new designations under the Sudan sanctions regime, and one new designation under the Mali sanctions regime. Among those sanctioned are Vitalii Viktorovitch Perfilev, the head of Wagner Group in CAR, and Ivan Aleksandrovitch, the head in Mali. Both individuals will now face asset freezes and travel bans.

The Wagner Group’s presence in Africa has been a matter of concern. It has been operating in multiple African countries since its emergence in 2014 during Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Across the continent, the group has a presence of approximately 5,000 personnel, including fighting forces, former convicts, and foreign nationals. Wagner is not just a mercenary contingent; rather, it operates as a complex network of businesses intricately connected with Russia’s military and intelligence community.

Recently, there have been questions regarding the whereabouts of the group’s leader. However, a video emerged showing Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner Group, greeting his fighters in Belarus, marking his first public appearance since he led an armed rebellion in Russia last month.

With the UK’s sanctions, the fate of Wagner’s significant Africa operation, which provided security services, paramilitary assistance, and disinformation campaigns for troubled regimes in CAR, Libya, Mali, and Sudan, is uncertain.