Investigation reveals arrival of least 1800 Russian forces and mercenaries in Libya over past two weeks

According to Newsweek, a collaborative investigation by the independent Russian site Vertska, the All Eyes on Wagner Project and U.S. backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has discovered a significant influx of Russian mercenaries and soldiers into Libya, totaling at least 1800 in the past few weeks. 

Some of the armed fighters have reportedly moved on to Niger coinciding with the impending withdrawal of American troops. For weeks, up to 100 Russian troops have co-existed with American forces in the same air base in Niger’s capital of Niamey.

Since the NATO-backed removal of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, Russia's Wagner mercenary group has clandestinely operated in Libya. Washington has alleged that Moscow leverages these mercenaries to meddle in the country's ongoing conflicts. 

Bloomberg previously reported on discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Libya's eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar in late September 2023, hinting at a defense accord that could extend Moscow's military footprint in eastern Libya, potentially culminating in a naval base.

This surge of Russian troops in Africa disrupts longstanding Western-backed counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel.