Russia is spreading its tentacles in Libya and Algeria, with an eye on the Sahel

[CEZAYIRLI]

Ce contenu a été dépublié par la rédaction de Mediapart car il ne respecte pas notre Charte de participation.

Le Club est l’espace de libre expression des abonnés de Mediapart.

blogs.mediapart.fr

Russia is spreading its tentacles in Libya and Algeria, with an eye on the Sahel.
15 NOV. 2021 BY MARKKAYE BLOG: THE MARKKAYE BLOG

In recent weeks, Russia has strengthened its economic and political relations with Libya and Algeria, two countries with which it has enjoyed close bilateral relations for decades and which it now sees as a springboard for its expansionist strategy in South Africa. North and the Sahel, key regions for the future of the European Union.

n the case of Libya, Russia's anchor is firmly planted in the east, where it has worked since 2015 with the controversial Marshal Khalifa Hafter, guardian of the parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk and strongman of the country thanks to his control of most of the country's oil resources.

Mr. Hafter, a former member of the military command that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power, recruited by the CIA in the 1980s and now the main opposition figure in exile, hinted that he would run in the scheduled presidential elections next December, which is opposed by the bloc that controls Tripoli and the city-state of Misrata.

Since 2017, the Marshal has benefited from the support of several private military security companies (PSMC), in particular the famous "Wagner Group", involved in the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria and which has spread to other African countries, and owned by oligarch Yevgeny Prighozin, one of President Vladimir Putin's childhood friends.

The departure of Russian mercenaries, along with other Sudanese, Syrian, Arab, Chadian, European and even American soldiers of fortune, is one of the sticking points that threaten both the negotiated ceasefire agreement. a year ago by Ankara and Moscow and the political transition process launched by the UN, which is due to end in elections at the end of the year.

Petroleum contracts:

Against this backdrop, senior Kremlin officials this week held an unusual meeting with Libyan Oil and Gas Minister Mohamed Aoun, a sector in which Moscow is increasingly interested and in which it already has significant business interests. , associated with the renovation and protection of local industry.

According to local press, during the meeting, which was organized to revive the Libyan-Russian joint committee, participants agreed to develop a plan to increase the volume of bilateral trade, investment and scientific and technical cooperation. .

In addition to strengthening projects already underway, such as the one initiated by the Russian company Tatneft, which resumed drilling operations at the Ghadames appraisal well in north-western Libya at the beginning of October, in collaboration with National Oil Libyan Company (NOC).

Tafnett suspended operations in February 2011, the start of the revolution that ended Gaddafi's dictatorship later in the year thanks to the push by militias and NATO military support.

“Russia's interest has evolved over the past two years. Previously, it saw Libya as just a platform to establish itself in NATO's backyard and a springboard in its struggle with China to raw materials, "a Libyan diplomat told Efe.

"But now they understand that it is also a country with many economic resources that their companies can also take advantage of, not so much to enrich themselves as to prevent European or American companies from entering," a colleague added to EFE. European, who also prefers not to be identified for security reasons.

Hafter, and Russia, are two of the Libyan players most resistant to the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries, which the UN is also demanding.

Algeria gateway to the Sahel:

In the same vein, Russia has intensified in recent weeks its contacts with Algeria, the country which shares the longest and most unstable border of the Sahel, a place of essential geostrategic interest for the EU.

A few weeks ago, an alleged secret deal was reported on the entry of units of the Wagner group with the alleged aim of positioning themselves on the fringes of Mali and Niger, a pact that the two governments have neither confirmed nor confirmed. strongly denied.

And this week, senior officials from both countries discussed the Western Sahara conflict over the phone during an official visit by the Polisario Front to Moscow to coordinate policies in the region after the appointment of a new special envoy to Moscow was released. the UN, blocked by Morocco for two years.

"Russia has always been on Algeria's side, just as Morocco has always relied on the United States and Europe. Today, the Algerians have severed their relations with their neighbor and Russia understands that he there is a better opportunity to place your pawns in a very sensitive area for Europe. It is a win-win relationship ", concludes a
European military source in the region. EFE

The Club is the free expression space for Mediapart subscribers. Its contents do not engage the editorial staff.