Russia Deploys Military Instructors to Equatorial Guinea

Russia has deployed approximately 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea to bolster the security of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, further expanding its influence in West Africa. These instructors are reportedly training elite guards in major cities, with some potentially coming from Belarus and elite Russian paratrooper units. This move reflects a broader pattern of increasing Russian intervention in Central and West Africa, where they have already deployed thousands of mercenaries to support military regimes and combat insurgencies. The presence of Russian forces comes at a time when Western influence in the region is waning, with a focus on securing key political figures, including the president's son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, as a potential successor. President Obiang, who has ruled since a 1979 coup, expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the support during a visit to Moscow. This development raises concerns about the geopolitical balance in a region with significant U.S. business interests.