Russia has reportedly deployed up to 200 troops to Equatorial Guinea to protect the presidency, as part of its ongoing efforts to expand its influence in Africa. Media reports indicate that these Russian troops are training elite guards in Malabo, the capital, and Bata, the country’s second-largest city. Initial reports of Russian troop deployment surfaced in August, with an estimated 100 to 200 Russians arriving over the past two months.
This deployment includes personnel likely affiliated with Africa Corps, a paramilitary force previously known as Wagner before being integrated into the Russian military structure. Sightings of these mercenaries in both Malabo and Bata suggest their primary mission is to safeguard the president and his family.
The Wagner Group has been active in the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mozambique, among other African countries. In 2024, the Wagner Group in Africa was merged into a new Africa Corps under the direct control of Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
Equatorial Guinea has also established a new Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR) with Russian assistance, acquiring Russian and Chinese-made armored vehicles for the unit. These vehicles include armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns, mortar carriers, and command and recovery variants of the WZ551 6×6 armored vehicle.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the world’s longest-serving president, has led Equatorial Guinea since 1979. In September, he expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending instructors to bolster Equatorial Guinea’s defense capabilities, as reported by state news agency TASS.
This move aligns with a broader trend in West Africa, where several countries have shifted away from traditional Western allies like France, seeking closer ties with Russia. These countries, which have experienced coups in recent years, have criticized Western nations for not adequately addressing jihadist insurgencies and have turned to Russia for support.
Russia’s increased presence in Equatorial Guinea shows its strategic ambitions in the region, aiming to strengthen alliances and exert greater influence across Africa.