Russia Drops 8,000 More Troops Into Africa as U.S. and Allies Lose Ground in Power Struggle

**Russia Drops 8,000 More Troops Into Africa as U.S. and Allies Lose Ground in Power Struggle** Russia is deepening its military footprint in Africa, deploying 8,000 additional troops to the continent as part of a broader effort to outmaneuver the United States and Ukraine, while Tuareg rebels in Mali have openly vowed to topple the country’s military junta [136542][136435][67411]. The new deployment brings Russia’s estimated total force in Africa to 20,000, according to analysts, as Moscow works to protect its own export routes and military influence amid escalating confrontation with Ukraine [136435]. The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Kyiv will continue targeting Russia’s export capacity, despite Russia’s intensified efforts to block Ukraine’s defense partnerships with Gulf states [136435]. Meanwhile, in Mali, Tuareg separatists have declared that the country’s military junta “will fall,” directly challenging the regime’s claim of control just one day after Mali’s military leader insisted the situation was stable [136542]. The rebel statement adds to growing instability in the Sahel, where military governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have pushed out French forces and turned to Russia for security support [67411]. The strategic competition in West Africa is intensifying. Russia’s “Africa Corps,” the successor to the Wagner Group, is deepening its footprint by providing security assistance and advisors, gaining political and economic influence in return [67411]. U.S. diplomacy and counter-terrorism efforts are losing ground, forcing American officials to urgently revise their approach to maintain relationships in a dramatically changed landscape [67411]. The scramble for influence extends beyond the Sahel. A major African Union summit in Addis Ababa, originally focused on water security, was instead dominated by Ethiopia’s push for sea access and the growing military and economic presence of world powers including the United States, China, Turkey, and Gulf states in the Horn of Africa [87433]. The Horn of Africa is now at a “dangerous crossroads,” trapped by interconnected conflicts and rising international competition, warned Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development [135287]. European and African leaders are also meeting in Angola for a summit centered on trade and critical mineral resources, amid new pressures from the growing influence of Russia, China, and the United States in Africa [11355]. The war in Ukraine has heightened global competition for Africa’s alliances and natural resources [11355]. Global powers are rushing for Africa’s coast as Ethiopia seeks a port, and the outcome of these contests will shape security and governance across the volatile Sahel and Horn of Africa for years to come [87433][67411]. Mali Rebels Vow to Topple Junta: "They Will Fall" Ukraine’s Gulf Deals Under Threat as Russia Bolsters Africa Forces U.S. and Russia in High-Stakes Scramble for Africa's Sahel Global Powers Rush for Africa's Coast as Ethiopia Seeks a Port Horn of Africa at 'Dangerous Crossroads,' Regional Chief Warns EU-Africa Summit Focuses on Trade and Minerals Amid Global Tensions