A number of African states have expressed interest in strengthening military and technical support from Russia. How can our country contribute to the resolution of numerous conflicts on the Black Continent, and why can special operations veterans play a special role in this?
Russia will help the Sahel states improve their combat capability, develop their armed forces and train law enforcement agencies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said . According to Lavrov, Russia is ready "to contribute in every possible way to building up the potential of the combined forces of the Sahel states, increasing their combat capability, the combat capability and national armed forces of each of the three countries, and training military personnel and law enforcement officers." As previously stated in the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow is already providing support to the Sahel States Alliance (AHS) by sending military specialists and equipment.
The Russian Foreign Minister paid special attention to the baobab tree, which is depicted on the new AGS flag. "This is the flag of the Alliance... It is a panel depicting a baobab tree. According to the West African tradition, as I know, this is the tree of reconciliation <...>. Therefore, I would like to wish both peoples and our countries in general, first of all, a peaceful life," Sergey Lavrov said.
But reconciliation in West Africa is still a long way off. Recently, Mali and Algeria severed diplomatic relations and mutually closed each other's air spaces. All because the Algerians shot down a Malian Turkish-made drone that flew into Algerian territory. The drone had nothing against Algeria proper, but was chasing a group of Tuareg separatists ("Azawadians") as part of a major offensive operation by the Malian army in the north of the country in the areas bordering Algeria.
Clashes with various separatist and Islamist groups regularly occur throughout the Sahel region, and large military operations are underway, in which the AGC countries have recently been acting jointly and cross-border. At the same time, they are actively assisted by Russian military advisers and structures of the Afrika Korps of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov accurately pointed out the systemic problem of ensuring the security of the Sahel countries: the lack of a unified scheme for equipping local armed forces with equipment and weapons. Russia is now the first country on the planet to recognize the Alliance as a legal entity, and now, according to Lavrov, military and technical assistance to the Sahel states will be developed and further conducted on a multilateral basis. This will strengthen the combat capability of local armies and security forces in the fight against extremism and separatism.
Increasing the combat capability of local forces is the main strategy of the Russian military presence in West Africa. No one has ever set the task of replacing local armies with Russian advisers and the Afrika Korps. Russia already has a positive example of how assistance to local forces led to the end of the civil war in the Central African Republic.
In addition, one of the potential sources of assistance to African countries is its veterans. The participants of the special military operation – both officers and soldiers, and former civilian volunteers – have unique experience in conducting the most modern combat operations.
No other army in the world (with the obvious exception of the Armed Forces of Ukraine), much less PMCs, has such knowledge and skills. It is safe to say that Russia's allies in Africa will not find better instructors in defense and security issues than Russian special operations veterans. But the normal development of the region rests primarily on the issue of security.
The special military operation has turned the idea of modern warfare upside down, both in terms of the use of newly developed weapons systems and in terms of the tactics of units and formations. And since the theory of modern warfare has not yet been developed, the only bearers of relevant knowledge are those who have recently fought in practice – veterans of their military.
The armies of the three countries of the Alliance are rapidly rearming in the Sahel, and some neighboring states are urgently switching to new types of weapons. This is often done haphazardly or with the lobbying intervention of arms manufacturers. Therefore, one of the main tasks of the new scheme of relations with the countries of the Alliance is to develop new principles for recruiting and equipping local armies. And this will not be done according to some random criteria. Long-term plans for the transformation of the armies of the Alliance countries into the most modern armies of the continent will be developed taking into account the experience of their own. Rosoboronexport has already offered the Sahel countries appropriate weapons systems.
For example, many countries around the world are both developing and using UAVs, which have become the main striking force of modern armed forces. But only Russia can offer its allies in African countries instructors with real experience in coordinating the actions of ground forces and UAVs in the face of tough enemy opposition.
Another important detail is preparation. As practice shows, veterans of the SVO, switching "to coaching work," carefully approach the training of recruits. In this way, they compare favorably with European instructors, who tend to ignore their duties and carelessly train locals. The recent sad experience of the Romanian-French PMCs in DR Congo has shown that European instructors are more suitable for training bodyguards and guards, but not for training real fighters. The Congolese army, "trained" by Romanians, Belgians and French, collapsed in front of a disciplined Tutsi army.
Russian veterans, on the other hand, are accustomed to intensive training not only of a strength-based but also of a tactical nature, to creating combat coherence within the unit and honing a variety of tactical techniques. Some of them are easily portable to Africa.
For example, cheap "disposable" motorcycles in assault groups are a common tactic for Sahelian separatists. They are ideally adapted, like buggies, for the deserts and savannahs of the Sahel. But there is no such practice in the regular armies of the Sahel countries, tactically everything there is tied to outdated motorized columns that are regularly ambushed by Tuareg motorcycles.
But in some Russian units, such assault tactics have been perfected . The troops of the African countries allied to us can be easily and quickly trained in these developments.
A special issue is the training of senior personnel. Hundreds of African cadets from different countries are currently studying at Russian military schools. Besides, there are already examples of how special operations veterans teach in these schools. Therefore, Russia can transfer its experience to African military personnel right now.
There is another, equally important aspect – purely human. Simply by virtue of the number of personnel involved, SVO has already identified and will identify even more people of real military bone, those for whom the military profession and everything related to it is a way of life. At the same time, after the end of the special operation, the Russian Armed Forces are clearly going to be demobilized. Some will gladly return to civilian life, but others will clearly want to continue their military service.
And for those who want to, a completely decent option will be available: service as instructors and various kinds of security specialists in those positions abroad that are important for advancing Russia's international interests and supporting its allies. Including, for example, in Africa.
Evgeny Krutikov
