Russia has deployed up to 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea in recent weeks to bolster the protection of its presidency, highlighting Moscow’s growing influence in West Africa despite recent setbacks in Mali.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Russian personnel are training elite guards in Equatorial Guinea’s two major cities, Malabo and Bata. The country, a small oil-exporting nation with a population of 1.7 million, once saw heavy investments from U.S. energy companies, though their presence has significantly declined in recent years.
The deployment is part of a broader pattern of diminishing Western influence in Africa, as Russia increases its military presence across the continent. Moscow has sent mercenaries to several countries to protect military regimes and combat insurgent groups, while also seeking economic gains in sectors like mining and energy.
Equatorial Guinea’s 82-year-old President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power since 1979, has been cultivating Russian ties, with Obiang publicly thanking Russian President Vladimir Putin for providing military instructors to strengthen the country’s defenses. The Russian military presence is likely intended to protect both Obiang and his son, Teodorin, the vice president and heir apparent, who has been embroiled in multiple international corruption investigations.
Recent recruitment advertisements on Russian Telegram channels revealed that private contractors were offered lucrative contracts to serve in Equatorial Guinea, with monthly salaries ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, paid in cash or cryptocurrency.
Despite previous U.S. investments in the country’s oil sector, interest has waned as production has dropped from a peak of 300,000 barrels per day to around 80,000. Russia, however, continues to pursue economic opportunities, particularly in Equatorial Guinea’s oil and gas sectors, as reported by Russian news agency Interfax.
Equatorial Guinea’s shift towards Russia aligns with Moscow’s broader geopolitical ambitions, including efforts to expand its footprint in Africa and challenge Western dominance. The deployment follows the waning influence of Western-backed security forces and Russia’s increasing reliance on the Africa Corps, a group of paramilitary forces directly controlled by Moscow.
As Russia expands its operations, experts suggest that the political and economic stakes are high, particularly in light of international scrutiny surrounding Equatorial Guinea’s leadership and ongoing regional conflicts.
