Nearly 200 Russian mercenaries have deployed in recent months to Mozambique to combat a growing Islamic State offshoot there, even as Moscow is taking initial steps toward building a military port in the Horn of Africa that could become Russia’s first permanent base on the continent.
New York Times: Russia exerts growing influence in Africa, worrying many in the West
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) shakes hands with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) prior to a family photo with heads of countries taking part in the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi on October 24, 2019. (Photo by Sergei CHIRIKOV / POOL / AFP)
