Lukashenka to War Criminal: Thank You for the Second Gold Field

Earlier, the dictator of Sudan allowed gold mining to Russian companies associated with PMCs.

Sudan has provided Belarus with a second gold mine field. On December 10 Lukashenka stated that at the meeting with Sudan's President, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, tut.by informs.

"In order to improve mutual settlements in trade, we have agreed that Belarusian companies will mine gold on your territory, your subsoil is very rich in this metal. I am grateful to you for your decision to provide us with a second gold mine," the press service of Lukashenka quotes his words addressed to the President of Sudan.

The second site is located near the Nile River, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Andrei Khudyk told reporters.

At present, a company with Belarusian private capital is already registered in Sudan. It has been given one land plot for development.

It is planned to carry out geological exploration simultaneously at two sites, Andrei Khudyk says.

Regarding prospects for further disposition of the gold mined, the Minister explained that Sudanese legislation was being thoroughly examined. According to preliminary information, if contribution of 20% is made, the rest will be available for ownership. "It's too early to talk about specific conditions today," he added.

According to tut.by, SOHRA Mining is engaged in the project in Sudan. It is associated with Belarusian businessman Aliaksandr Zaitseu (border logistics centers "Bremino Group," supplies of Belarusian equipment to the Gulf countries, Dinamo-Brest football club). It mainly deals with carrying out geological and mining works, including rendering of services; trade in semi-precious and precious minerals and precious metals. According to a presentation to investors, in addition to Sudan, the company plans to mine and process gold in Ghana.

"It's a very complex project. Perhaps, the last meeting of presidents of Belarus and Sudan will give it an impetus," an informed source who refused from other comments said.

As of 2016, Sudan was the third largest gold producer in Africa with production output of over 90 tonnes per year. According to the Chinese Xinhua agency, last year's production in Sudan exceeded 100 tons.

It should be noted that several Russian companies intend to mine gold in Africa. In the summer The Bell reported that a company associated with the so-called Putin's chef was engaged in the extraction of precious metals in Sudan. It is about businessman Evgeny Prigozhin, who is called a close friend of the Russian President. A related company, M Invest, has begun to develop gold mine fields in Sudan. The periodical refers to anonymous sources, which, in particular, were present at talks between Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev with Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.

These negotiations took place in November 2017. At the meeting of Medvedev and al-Bashir the agreement on exploration and extraction of gold in Sudan was signed. At the meeting with Putin, the Sudanese leader, accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, asked for protection against "US aggression".

According to Bloomberg journalists, Evgeny Prigozhin uses a private military company of Wagner to strengthen Russia's influence in Africa. The caterer offers African governments an armed support in return for mining rights and other bonuses.

In the rush to strengthen geopolitical power, Moscow relies on leaders of unstable but potentially rich states "craving for Russian weapons".

Prigozhin has already developed his activity in 10 countries the Russian military cooperate with: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Libya, Madagascar, Angola, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. Military structures associated with "Putin's Chef" have become more active on the eve of the Russia-Africa summit, with leaders of more than 50 countries involved in 2019.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's influence in Africa has significantly decreased. The region is now focal efforts of the Kremlin to restore its geopolitical status. In addition, the continent has become a new market for sanctioned Russian companies.

It will be recalled that on 12 July 2010, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, charging him with organizing and carrying out the genocide against Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa, three tribal groups among the Sudanese Darfur population.

Despite this, the dictator holds meetings with leaders of some countries. In 2017, he arrived in Sochi and met with the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin.

According to American "Parade" magazine, as of 2005 he had a world lead in the worst dictators of modern times.