Executive Summary

Russia’s August 2024 deployment of 200 military advisors to Equatorial Guinea bolsters the local government and secures economic benefits for Moscow while filling a gap left by waning US and Western influence. This is in line with Russia’s broad efforts in securing strategically favourable positions in Africa through military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation, as well as covert influence programs.

Russia’s interest in Equatorial Guinea is not a surprise. In November 2023, president of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo expressed his interest in fostering defence cooperation with Russia. [source]