Russia deploys dozens of military instructors to Equatorial Guinea

A US-based human rights activist from Equatorial Guinea says the alleged Russian military presence in the country could undermine the US presence geopolitically and businesswise. Reuters News Agency quoted sources Tuesday as saying that Russia has deployed up to 200 military instructors to Equatorial Guinea in recent weeks to protect the presidency. This comes as Western influence in West and Central Africa is declining, and Russia’s presence is increasing. Equatorial Guinea’s 82-year-old leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the world’s longest serving leader. Tutu Alicante, director of EG Justice, or Equatorial Guinea Justice, a North Carolina-based human rights organization that focuses exclusively on the country, tells VOA’s James Butty, that there is some credibility to the reports