Russia’s ‘dangerous’ influence in Africa

West urged to act as plunder boosts Moscow war chest

RUSSIA’S influence in Libya and Africa will soon reach “dangerous levels” unless thewest acts more decisively, experts warn.

Moscow’s footprint in Libya has allowed its war machine to reap £5billion in oil sales since 2022, while its presence in other African states gives it billions more in plundered mineral resources.

Crucially, Russia’s military presence – with potential control of a port just 700 miles from Sicily – gives Moscow influence in a resource-rich continent and the power to apply pressure in Nato’s southern flank.

There are almost 2,000 Wagner operatives in Libya, as well as 15 Russian pilots, 35 technical experts and 80 admin staff.

They were joined recently by 1,500 Russian troops – a sign that Moscow is no longer attempting to work in the shadows.

Wagner Africa has been transformed into a Russian “Expeditionary Corps” controlled by the GRU military intelligence agency.

Profits of its legal and illegal operations in Africa allow the Kremlin to cover operational costs, including the £20million-amonth wage for soldiers in Libya.

Those armed mercenaries allowed warlord and Gaddafi protege General Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar to attempt a military coup in 2022 and divide the country.

In return, Libya acts as a linchpin to

Russian operations elsewhere in Africa, providing autocracies with a “regime survival package” – offering security in return for unfettered access to mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, uranium, cobalt, nickel and chromium.

Russia has made more than $2.5billion in blood gold since 2022, and a £1billion diamond mine in the Central African Republic nets more than £300million a year.

Last week, 100 Russian “advisers” loaded with military equipment were welcomed to Niger, which boasts some of the world’s largest uranium reserves, and from which Washington said it will withdraw 1,000 US troops in the near future.

“I don’t think the scope of the problem is properly understood in the UK,” said Alia Brahimi, of the Atlantic Council think-tank. “The Russian influence is organised and systemic. The West can no longer afford to ignore what’s going on.”

Jalel Harchaoui, of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said: “Russia’s aim is to gain influence in a continent where the demographic is growing and which has rich mineral deposits.

“Putin also wants more presence in the Mediterranean. He wants the ability to hurt Nato, and Libya’s port of Tobruk is on Nato’s southern border.”

Mr Harchaoui said the response from the US and UK has been “timid and tiny, moving at a glacial pace at best”.