Russia's strategic shift: Seeking allies in West African ports
Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, and Conakry in Guinea represent Russia's new hope for establishing a non-freezing naval base. This development follows their warships being expelled from the Syrian port of Tartus in the Mediterranean Sea and efforts to replace it with the Libyan port of Tobruk.
An analysis conducted by the industry portal Portseurope delves into Moscow's pursuit of "warm" seaports for trade, severely restricted by Western sanctions, and for the Russian navy. The portal suggests that Russia has had to turn its attention to smaller ports in West Africa due to EU and US diplomats conditioning the easing or lifting of international sanctions on Syria on its closure of bases to the Russian navy and air force.
Similar suggestions were made to eastern Libya, controlled by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who competes with the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli for recognition by Western states.
Already in November of last year, Russia sent about 200 military instructors to tiny Equatorial Guinea to protect the 40-year ruling President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. By the end of the year, both countries had signed an agreement allowing Russian warships to dock and moor in two ports—continental Bata and Bioko Island's capital, Malabo.
Equatorial Guinea, with substantial oil and natural gas reserves, is one of the wealthier countries in Africa, which is significant to Moscow, as it relentlessly exploits the continent's resources.
A small country in West Africa
Russia is also interested in the port of equally small Guinea-Bissau, whose President Umaro Sissoco Embalo signed agreements in late February in Moscow to strengthen military cooperation with Russia. Embalo offered Putin access to bauxite and the Atlantic port of Bissau. According to Reuters, the visit was no coincidence; the President of Equatorial Guinea flew to Moscow on the day his mandate expired because he postponed nationwide elections from December of last year to September of the current year, contrary to the constitution.
This country, wedged between Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea, has long had powerful ties with Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, where—according to the Kenyan magazine "The African Executive"—over 70% of Guinea-Bissau's soldiers and civil officials were trained.
Conakry, the port and capital of the third Guinea, is already being used by Russia to supply its mercenaries stationed in Mali. In mid-January, as reported by the French "Le Monde," over 100 military vehicles, including tanks and armored infantry support vehicles, were unloaded by Russians at this port, which then traveled across the country en route to Bamako in Mali.
