The US has warned African countries, which work with the controversial Wagner Group in Russia's war on Ukraine, "do not end up in a stronger position". "The [state] department is also designating, under E O 14024, three individuals for their roles as heads of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, which has been reported to facilitate the recruitment of Russian prisoners into the Wagner Group," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These are an aviation firm, a propaganda organisation, and Wagner front companies