Russia’s expanding influence in West Africa, up to 200 Russian military instructors have been deployed to Equatorial Guinea, according to sources cited by Reuters. This deployment aims to reinforce the security of the presidency in the small, oil-rich nation, where Moscow’s involvement signals a growing shift in the region’s geopolitical landscape.
The Russian instructors are reportedly training elite security units in Malabo and Bata, Equatorial Guinea’s main cities. This strategic partnership arrives at a time when Western influence in West and Central Africa is on the decline, while Russia’s presence in the region continues to grow. Russian personnel have increasingly been deployed across several African nations, providing protection to military-led governments and aiding in counterinsurgency efforts.
Equatorial Guinea, a nation of 1.7 million people, once attracted significant investment from U.S. energy firms in the early 2000s. However, Western involvement has since receded, creating an opening for Russia’s engagement. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power since a 1979 coup, may be seeking to leverage Russian support to ensure political stability as he prepares his son to succeed him.
During a state visit to Moscow in September, President Obiang expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending “instructors” to bolster Equatorial Guinea’s defenses, as reported by Russia’s TASS news agency. This cooperation reflects a broader trend of Russian influence in the region, aligning with Moscow’s deployments across West Africa to support allied governments and protect their leadership.
