INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The fall of Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria has disrupted the Kremlin's strategy not only for the Mediterranean but also for Africa,
pushing it to focus on Libya as a potential foothold, experts say.Russia runs a military port and an air base on the Syrian coast, designed
to facilitate its operations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, especially the Sahel, Sudan and the Central
African Republic.However, this model is in jeopardy with the abrupt departure of the Syrian ruler.Although Syria's new leader, Ahmed
al-Sharaa, has called Russia an "important country", saying "we do not want Russia to leave Syria in the way that some wish," the
reshuffling of cards in Syria is pushing Russia to seek a strategic retreat towards Libya.In Libya, Russian mercenaries already support
Khalifa Haftar, a field marshal controlling the east of the country, against the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) which has
UN recognition and is supported by Turkey."The goal is notably to preserve the ongoing Russian missions in Africa," said Jalel Harchaoui at
the RUSI think tank in the UK."It's a self-preservation reflex" for Russia which is anxious "to mitigate the deterioration of its position
in Syria," he told AFP.In May 2024, Swiss investigative consortium "All Eyes On Wagner" identified Russian activities at around 10 Libyan
sites, including the port of Tobruk, where military equipment was delivered in February and April of last year.There were around 800 Russian
troops present in February 2024, and 1,800 in May.On December 18 the Wall Street Journal, citing Libyan and American officials, said there
had been a transfer of Russian radars and defence systems from Syria to Libya, including S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft batteries.'Notable
volume'Since Assad's fall on Dec
8, "a notable volume of Russian military resources has been shipped to Libya from Belarus and Russia", said Harchaoui, adding there had been
troop transfers as well.Ukrainian intelligence claimed on Jan
3 that Moscow planned "to use Sparta and Sparta II cargo ships to transport military equipment and weapons" to Libya.Beyond simply
representing a necessary replacement of "one proxy with another," the shift is a quest for "continuity," said expert Emadeddin Badi on the
Atlantic Council's website, underscoring Libya's role as "a component of a long-standing strategy to expand Moscow's strategic
foothold in the region."'Disrupt western interests'According to Badi, "Assad offered Moscow a foothold against NATO's eastern flank and a
stage to test military capabilities."Haftar, he said, presents a similar opportunity, "a means to disrupt western interests, exploit Libya's
fractured politics, and extend Moscow's influence into Africa."The Tripoli government and Italy, Libya's former colonial master, have
expressed concern over Russian movements, closely observed by the European Union and NATO.Several sources say the United States has tried to
persuade Haftar to deny the Russians a permanent installation at the port of Tobruk that they have coveted since 2023.It seems already clear
the Kremlin will struggle to find the same level of ease in Libya that it had during Assad's reign."Syria was convenient," said Ulf
Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation."It was this black box with no Western diplomats, no
They could basically do what they wanted," he told AFP."But in Libya, it will be much more complicated
It's difficult to keep things secret there and Russian presence will be much more visible," he said.Moscow will also have to contend with
other powers, including Turkey, which is allied with the GNU, as well as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who are patrons of Haftar.In
Libya, torn into two blocs since the ouster of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in February 2011, "everybody's trying to work with both
sides," said Laessing.Over the past year, even Turkey has moved closer to Haftar, seeking potential cooperation on economic projects and
diplomatic exchanges.Russia will also be mindful to have a plan B should things go wrong for its Libyan ally."We must not repeat the mistake
made in Syria, betting on a local dictator without an alternative," said Vlad Shlepchenko, military correspondent for the pro-Kremlin media
Tsargrad.Haftar, meanwhile, is unlikely to want to turn his back on western countries whose tacit support he has enjoyed."There are probably
limits to what the Russians can do in Libya," said Laessing.
