# Prigozhin is dead, but his mercenary empire lives on; his son expands family business in Central African Republic, WSJ reports

https://mins.news/en/item/106566

- Meduza, 2026-10-19 16:04 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/19/yevgeny-prigozhin-is-dead-but-his-mercenary-empire-lives-on-his-son-has-expanded-the-family-business-in-the-central-african-republic-wsj-reports

> The Wall Street Journal reports that Pavel Prigozhin retained control of Wagner fighters in the Central African Republic after his father’s death and expanded the family business. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra reportedly asked the Kremlin not to replace them with Russian Defense Ministry troops. About 500 Wagner fighters are based in Bangui, where they guard the president, fight rebels and engage in mining and trafficking. Pavel controls the country’s largest gold deposit, and the family businesses generate more than $400 million annually, according to the report.