Could you introduce yourself and tell us what you cover?

Yes, so I'm Ben Wa Foucault, my reporter covering Africa and the Middle East.

Our colleague Ben Wa has been keeping a close eye on the Wagner group, the private

mercenary company that represents Russian interests around the world.

Last month, the group's leader, Yves Gennie Pregozion, was killed.

Right now, we're following breaking news out of Russia where a business jet crash has killed ten people.

It's been confirmed that Yves Gennie Pregozion, head of the Wagner group, was on board the private jet.

Pregozion has been killed in a plane crash in a flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Many thought that Pregozion's death marked an end to Wagner.

Was that your impression too?

Not exactly, because he not only created a brand, but also created an ecosystem.

An ecosystem that reaches into many countries across Africa.

It includes Wagner's armies and mercenaries, and also its companies and gold and diamond mines.

All of it is estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

So you can have that ecosystem surviving the death of his leader, with the same people, the same function,

and with the government in Russia struggling to really take control of it, because it's too far, it's too complicated,

and it relies on personal relationships.

So it sounds like Wagner is very much alive.

Absolutely. I mean, at this stage, the networks, the people, the personal on the ground remains in place.

Now, one man, according to Benoit's reporting, is the face of Wagner's business empire in Africa.

Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business, and power.

I'm Jessica Mendoza, it's Monday, September 25th.

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