Russia eyes West African ports amid naval base ambitions
Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, and Conakry in Guinea represent Russia's new hope for an ice-free naval base. This development follows the expulsion of its warships from the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea, with efforts to secure an alternative at the Libyan port of Tobruk currently ongoing.
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 propositions have surfaced in eastern Libya, under the control of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who is in competition with the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli for recognition from Western states.
In November of last year, Russia deployed approximately 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea to safeguard President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power for 40 years. By the end of the year, the two nations had formalised an agreement permitting Russian navy vessels to dock and berth in two ports: Bata on the mainland and Malabo, situated on the island of Bioko, which serves as the capital.
Equatorial Guinea, endowed with substantial reserves of oil and natural gas, is among the wealthier African nations, a fact that is significant for Moscow, which is intent on capitalising on the continent's resources.
A small country in West Africa
Russia is also showing interest in the port of Guinea-Bissau, a similarly small nation whose President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, signed agreements in Moscow at the end of February to enhance military collaboration with Russia. Embaló has offered Putin access to bauxite and the Atlantic port of Bissau. According to Reuters, this visit was not coincidental; the President of Equatorial Guinea travelled to Moscow on the day his mandate expired, having postponed national elections from December of the previous year to September of the current year, contrary to the constitution.
This country, nestled between Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea, has long maintained strong ties with Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, with over 70% of Guinea-Bissau's military personnel and civilian officials reportedly trained there, according to the Kenyan magazine "The African Executive."
Conakry, the port and capital of the third Guinea, is already utilised by Russia for supplying its mercenaries stationed in Mali. In mid-January, as reported by the French newspaper "Le Monde," Russia unloaded over 100 military vehicles, including tanks and armoured infantry support vehicles, at this port, which then traversed the entire country en route to Bamako in Mali.
