Moscow has started integrating Wagner Group operations in Libya under the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), through the newly established African Corps. This move deepens Russian military involvement in Libya, taking advantage of the country’s political fragmentation to expand Moscow’s influence in the Mediterranean. Following Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death in August 2023, Russia has bolstered its presence with at least 800 contractors and possibly 1,000 Syrian militiamen, mainly in Benghazi, supporting the Tobruk-based House of Representatives and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
The LNA, supported by Russia, the UAE, and Egypt, contrasts with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli, backed by Qatar, Italy, and Türkiye. Russia’s continued support for Haftar, including military cooperation talks and potential maritime expansions via access to Libyan ports, signifies Moscow’s strategic interests in Libya. This recalibration under the GRU, focusing on hybrid warfare and enhanced military capabilities, reflects Moscow’s intent to solidify its influence in Libya and the broader Mediterranean region, amidst ongoing geopolitical rivalries.
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