Spain's foreign minister warns of growing Russian presence in Africa
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alparis.
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Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alparis has warned of the growing Russian presence in Africa, where a state of political instability and extremist groups are active, stressing the need for Africa to give a higher focus to local and European foreign policy makers.
During statements he made in Madrid to Antena-3 TV channel, last Tuesday, ahead of the NATO (NATO) summit, Alparis said: "There is an increasing Russian presence in Africa and in the northern countries of the continent."
Reports indicate that in Mali, elements affiliated with the Russian Wagner Group are filling the void created by the exit of French forces, and in Sudan, Moscow offered Khartoum an economic alliance, in exchange for which it obtained a promise to establish a Russian naval base in the Red Sea, and in the Central African Republic, fighters will protect «Wagner» gold and diamond mines in the country.
In return, Putin gets diplomatic allies and new resources.
Albares explained that the African Sahel region, which is a semi-arid area, extending from Senegal to Sudan, is characterized by weak government institutions and an increasing military junta, and it suffers from political turmoil, terrorism, drought, and a food crisis, from which the major waves of illegal immigration towards Europe are currently emerging.
Two senior government officials and two diplomatic sources confirmed to Reuters that Spain is working to change its foreign policy towards Africa, while pressing the European Union and NATO to find a solution to the issue of immigration from the continent.
According to the mentioned sources, Spain took advantage of the "NATO" summit, which was held in Madrid, to pressure to focus on African issues, and is likely to request increased intelligence sharing, including those related to illegal immigration.
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