Russia forms ‘Africa Directorate’ in Libya

Russia’s formation of the ‘Africa Directorate’ in Libya underscores a significant strategic shift in the region’s military landscape

Over the past three months, Russia’s Defense Ministry reportedly sent military units to Libya to form the Africa Directorate in the region. Groups affiliated with putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army control the deployment, mainly in Eastern Libya, signaling Russia’s strategic interest in the Sahel region and the Mediterranean coast.

The Africa Legion, akin to the Wagner Group’s Africa Corps, aims to provide security services and access to natural resources in countries like Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Niger, where Russia has close ties at the state level.

This move is seen as Moscow’s attempt to revive its influence from the Cold War era and increase strategic depth in the region, especially as Western influence diminishes. Russian Defense Ministry units with a complex oversight mechanism are expected to control the Africa Corps.

In related developments, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Bek Yevkurov reportedly held clandestine meetings with Haftar to discuss the establishment and operations of the Africa Legion, indicating the increasing engagement of Moscow in Libya’s military landscape.

Source: Newsroom