Russia has increased its military presence in Equatorial Guinea, sending up to 200 military instructors to the small West African nation in recent weeks, sources have confirmed. The move is seen as part of Moscow’s ongoing strategy to extend its influence across the region, despite challenges in other parts of Africa, particularly in Mali.
The Russian instructors are reportedly stationed in Equatorial Guinea’s two main cities, Malabo and Bata, where they are training elite presidential guards tasked with securing the country’s leadership. The deployment underscores Russia’s growing footprint in West and Central Africa, areas where Western influence has been waning. Moscow has been increasingly active in the region, offering military and security services to various governments and regimes in exchange for economic opportunities, particularly in energy and mining sectors.
Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish colony with a population of just 1.7 million, is home to significant oil reserves that have drawn foreign investment, including billions of dollars from U.S. companies in the early 2000s. However, U.S. interest in the country has declined as domestic oil production in the United States has increased.
The deployment of Russian personnel is also viewed as a move to safeguard the presidency of 82-year-old Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Africa’s longest-serving leader, who has ruled since a coup in 1979. Obiang, who has been grooming his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, for succession, has previously sought foreign assistance to bolster his regime’s security. During a visit to Moscow in September, Obiang publicly thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending military “instructors” to strengthen the country’s defences.
Sources indicate that Russian personnel may also include troops from Belarus and members of the Kremlin-backed Africa Corps, a paramilitary group active in several African countries. The deployment follows a recruitment drive in June, where Russian contractors were offered security contracts with salaries ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per month, to be paid in cash or cryptocurrency.
This move comes at a time when Russia’s private security forces, notably the Wagner Group, have faced significant setbacks, including losses in Mali. Following the death of Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow has increasingly relied on the Africa Corps to carry out its operations in Africa, with personnel already deployed in countries like Burkina Faso and Niger.
Russia’s growing presence in Africa, particularly in Equatorial Guinea, is a clear signal of its efforts to counter Western influence and secure economic and geopolitical advantages on the continent.