In a recent strategic move, Russia has deployed up to 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea, aiming to bolster the security of the presidency in the oil-rich African nation, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This deployment underscores Moscow’s expanding role in West Africa, despite setbacks in other regions like Mali.
The Russian instructors are reportedly engaged in training elite presidential guards in Equatorial Guinea’s main cities. This comes as part of a broader shift in West and Central Africa, where Russian influence is growing as Western involvement diminishes. Over recent years, Moscow has sent thousands of mercenaries to support military regimes across the region, often assisting in combating insurgent threats.
For Russia, these missions are financially advantageous, as they bring in government fees and open doors for economic opportunities in sectors like mining and energy. This strategy also aligns with Russia’s global stance against Western influence, particularly as tensions with the West intensify over the conflict in Ukraine.
In Equatorial Guinea, 82-year-old President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled since a 1979 coup and is preparing to pass power to his son, benefits from Russia’s security presence as a safeguard for his administration. During a visit to Moscow in September, Obiang publicly expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledging the Russian “instructors” who have strengthened the country’s defenses, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS.
