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User:Mbroderick271/Frontier Services Group

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Frontier Services Group (FSG) is an Africa-focused security, aviation, and logistics company founded and led by Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater Worldwide. Prince has described FSG's main corporate mission as helping Chinese businesses to work safely in Africa. The company operates logistical projects for shipping routes in Africa, and also conducts high-risk evacuations from conflict zones.[1]

Unlike Blackwater, FSG claims that it does not provide services involving armed personnel or training armed personnel. In some cases, it provides personnel and training to help non-military personnel provide close protection security, without the use of arms.[2] However, critics have voiced concerned that Prince's work as FSG chairman has included efforts to sell paramilitary programs and services. FSG ended contracts with two of Prince’s closest associates within the company after becoming suspicious that they were assisting Prince in unauthorized paramilitary contracts.[3]

J. David Whittingham is FSG's Group Vice President & Head of Africa. His responsibilities include business development, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions and investor relations.[4]

Frontier Services Group has ties to the Citic Group, an investment fund owned and controlled by the People’s Republic of China. Citic is FSG's largest shareholder.[5] FSG has signed contracts to support China's One Belt, One Road initiative including building a series of bases in China’s Xinjiang Province. In December 2017, FSG announced its plans to set up a “forward operating base” in Yunnan to provide logistics and unarmed security training services to facilitate One Belt, One Road-related projects in Southeast Asia.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Scahill, Jeremy. "ERIK PRINCE IN THE HOT SEAT". The Intercept. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  2. ^ Clover, Charles. "Blackwater founder Erik Prince eyes opportunities with China". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  3. ^ Scahill, Jeremy. "ERIK PRINCE IN THE HOT SEAT". The Intercept. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  4. ^ Frontier Services Group http://www.fsgroup.com/en/team.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ Roston, Aram. "Betsy DeVos's Brother, The Founder Of Blackwater, Is Setting Up A Private Army For China, Sources Say". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  6. ^ Horton, Chris. "The American mercenary behind Blackwater is helping China establish the new Silk Road". Quartz. Retrieved 5 September 2017.