Russia on a par with China is very active in Africa. Weapons and logistical assistance, this is the bargaining chip with African countries to gain access to mineral and energy resources and territorial political influence. The countries where Russia is actively interfering are Libya, Sudan, Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mozambique, Angola. As written by Paolo Mastrolilli, correspondent of La Stampa in New York, the alarm was reported by the "New York Times" just before the NATO summit to be held this week in Washington.
What the New York Times had written had already been raised in recent months by National Security Advisor John Bolton and by the head of Africa Command, General Thomas Waldhauser.
General Waldhauser told Congress that "Russia represents a growing challenge and has chosen a more militaristic approach to Africa". Bolton added that "the Kremlin continues to sell weapons and energy in exchange for votes to the UN, which keep the dictators on their feet and undermine the peace, security and interests of Africans".
In Libya, Russia supports the generalissimo Kalifa Haftar. In the Central African Republic, Moscow not only trains local troops, but has sent Valeriy Zakharov as a security advisor to the Bangui government. In Sudan Putin supports the Bashir in exchange for access to ports on the Red Sea, while last spring also French-speaking countries with a strong UN presence such as Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, have asked the Kremlin for assistance in fighting ISIS al Qaeda. In some cases mercenary troops are used such as those provided by the Wagner Group, which in Syria had clashed with American soldiers. The infiltrations extend to Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, Burundi, Madagascar, with which Moscow has signed military cooperation agreements. Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia also buy its weapons and SU-35 fighters.