Russia sends 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea: Reuters reveals purpose
Illustrative photo: Russia has sent 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea (Getty Images)
Russia has likely sent around 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea to assist in protecting President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, according to Reuters.
Sources report that Russian instructors sent to Equatorial Guinea in recent weeks will be training elite guards for the President. Two insiders revealed that some of these instructors might include Belarusian military personnel. One of the instructors may come from an elite unit of Russian paratroopers.
According to Reuters’ sources, the primary aim of the Russian presence is to protect the president’s son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, known as Teodorin, a multimillionaire, vice president, and presumed successor.
Reuters highlights that Russia is seeking to further strengthen its influence in Central and West Africa, where it has deployed thousands of mercenaries to support military regimes and assist them in fighting insurgencies.
President Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea for over 40 years, having come to power through a 1979 coup. During a visit to Moscow in September, Russian media reported that he thanked Putin for sending Russian instructors to bolster Equatorial Guinea’s defenses.
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