Russia has recently deployed around 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea in recent weeks to protect the presidency, according to sources who spoke to Reuters.
Two sources reported that Russian military instructors are stationed in Equatorial Guinea’s capital, Malabo, and Bata, the country’s mainland city located between Cameroon and Gabon.
The deployment of Russian military instructors in Equatorial Guinea is part of a broader trend of diminishing Western influence and growing Russian involvement in West and Central Africa.
Moscow has sent thousands of mercenaries to the region, where they protect military regimes and assist in fighting insurgents. For Russia, these engagements provide a lucrative stream of government fees and economic opportunities, particularly in mining and energy, all while challenging Western powers as part of the broader geopolitical struggle, especially in Ukraine.
In Equatorial Guinea, the presence of Russian security forces could help safeguard the long-standing regime of 82-year-old President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power since a 1979 coup and is preparing his son to succeed him. During a visit to Moscow in September, Obiang expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending “instructors” to strengthen the country’s defences, according to state news agency TASS.
Sources confirmed the Russian presence in the country, with estimates of 100 to 200 personnel arriving in recent months. Some speculated that the forces may include troops from Russia’s ally Belarus, while others identified some of the personnel as part of an elite Russian paratrooper unit or the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, a paramilitary group.
This deployment follows job advertisements that appeared in June on pro-military Russian Telegram channels, offering contracts for private security contractors in Equatorial Guinea. The ads promised monthly salaries of $3,000 to $5,000, payable in cash or cryptocurrency, and have since been removed.
The Russians’ primary task is reportedly to protect Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, known as Teodorin, the vice-president and presumptive successor to his father, President Teodoro Obiang. Teodorin has faced multiple investigations and charges related to embezzlement and money laundering in the U.S., France, and the U.K. He is also known for his lavish lifestyle.
