The United Arab Emirates has become a key intermediary for Moscow to avoid sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, particularly in relation to gold. According to Russian customs records, the UAE imported over 75 tons of Russian gold in 2023, compared to 1.3 tons in 2021, making Russia the largest gold supplier to the Arab country. This significant increase in gold imports suggests a strong economic partnership between the two nations. The Wagner Group, a private military company closely linked to the Kremlin, plays a crucial role in this partnership.
The Wagner Group offers its services to those who can afford them, provided their interests align with those of the Kremlin. This article explores the symbiosis between the United Arab Emirates and Russia through the Wagner Group and other air transport companies associated with the group. The relationship between the UAE and Wagner extends beyond gold, with the group serving as a means for the UAE to transport weapons to conflicts in Africa, such as in Libya and Sudan.
The UAE is the largest gold buyer in several African countries, including Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic. The gold extracted from these countries is often mixed with gold from legitimate sources in Dubai and then reinserted into the market. The Wagner Group has been linked to gold extraction in these countries, with reports suggesting that the group has earned around $2.5 billion from its gold operations. For instance, in Mali, the Society of Marena Gold was formed in 2022, with Dimitri Utkin, the number two of Wagner, owning 78% of the company. The Wagner Group has also taken control of mining areas in Mali and has obtained mining concessions in the Central African Republic.
The transportation of weapons to conflicts in Africa is another aspect of the UAE-Wagner partnership. The Wagner Group has been involved in transporting weapons to Libya and Sudan, with the UAE providing financial and logistical support. For example, in 2019, a report by the United Nations Security Council detailed a list of companies that helped the UAE and Turkey dodge the embargo on the sale of weapons in Libya, including Deek Aviation, which has links to the Wagner Group. In Sudan, the UAE has used the Wagner Group to introduce weapons into the country from the Central African Republic.
The air bridge between Africa and the UAE, established through airlines linked to the Wagner Group, plays a crucial role in the transportation of gold and weapons. Companies such as Aviacon Zitotrans, Fly Sky Airlines, and Deek Aviation, all owned by Russian tycoon Valery Sevelyev, have been involved in these operations. These airlines have operated numerous flights between Dubai and African countries, with some flights making stops at airports in Egypt, Uganda, and Somalia. The construction of the Bosaso Airport in Somalia, financed by Emirati companies, has also facilitated the transportation of Wagner operations and equipment to other areas of Africa.
The opaque nature of these flights and destinations makes it challenging to track the activities of these airlines. However, it is clear that the UAE serves as a hub for the Wagner Group’s operations in Africa, with the group using the country as a base for its gold and weapons transportation activities. The UAE’s role in “cleaning” gold extracted by the Wagner Group in Africa and transporting weapons to conflicts in the region raises concerns about the country’s involvement in illicit activities.
In summary, the UAE-Wagner partnership is a complex web of economic and military interests, with the two parties collaborating on gold and weapons transportation in Africa. The use of airlines linked to the Wagner Group has enabled the UAE to transport gold and weapons across the continent, with the group earning significant profits from its gold operations. The UAE’s involvement in these activities has significant implications for global security and the regulation of illicit activities.