Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, during a Feb. 20-21, 2024 visit to Morocco. Langley said in March 7 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia and China have made inroads in a number of African countries. (U.S. Africa Command)
STUTTGART, Germany — Russia is making aggressive moves in Africa in a bid to dominate regions spanning from NATO’s southern doorstep in Libya to resource-rich parts of central Africa, a top U.S. general told Congress.
Russia and China both have long-term plans for Africa but Russia is moving “at an accelerated pace,” U.S. Africa Command’s Gen. Michael Langley said during the Senate Armed Services Committee testimony Thursday.
“A number of countries are at the tipping point of actually being captured by the Russian Federation,” Langley said.
Like China, Russia has made inroads in Africa on multiple fronts. Langley said Russian operatives have taken advantage of unrest in western Africa, where there have been a series of coups in recent years.
American involvement in places such as Niger and Mali has been curtailed because of government overthrows. But that also has opened the door to a larger Russian presence.
This undated photo handed out by the French military shows Russian mercenaries in northern Mali. Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command said during March 7, 2024 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia and China have long-term plans for Africa and both have made inroads on multiple fronts. (French army )
Langley said Russian security forces, both private contractors and state actors, have upped their presence in the coup-wracked countries, as well as Libya and the Central African Republic.
“They want power projection capabilities,” Langley said, adding that gaining access to natural resources, including rare-earth minerals, are part of the attraction.
“I think at an accelerated pace, the Russian Federation is really trying to take over Central Africa as well as the Sahel,” Langley said.
Central and southern African countries in particular have little trust in China and Russia but need infrastructure investments, inexpensive equipment and financial support, which can take the form of predatory loans that leave them vulnerable to domination, Langley said.
“These countries are in a dilemma. They must balance their development needs against risks to national sovereignty,” Langley said.
The U.S. offers a different approach, one that is centered on development of civilian and defense institutions and doesn’t hold its partners’ natural resources hostage, Langley said.
“Instead of demanding financial and political concessions, we demand accountability on the fundamentals: respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Langley said.
While it’s unclear which approach will win out, the stakes are high, given global military reliance on minerals such as chromium, cobalt, manganese and tantalum that are vital for various industries.
“If we don’t support host nations in securing these resources, the implications for America’s defense edge will be grim,” Langley said. “These are critical minerals for our adversaries too.”
