A new phase of Russian expansion on the African continent opens, after the loss of positions in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime.
Russia is expanding its military presence in Libya by transferring men and equipment to the Maaten al Sarra base, on the border with Chad and Sudan. This was reported by well-informed Libyan sources to “Agenzia Nova”. Located in a strategic position, this air base, used during the Libyan-Chadian war of the 1980s, is now at the center of a major Russian operation to strengthen control over the Sahel region, an area increasingly at the center of Moscow’s geopolitical interests.
In December 2024, the Russian Federation sent a group of Syrian soldiers fleeing Hay’at Tahrir al Sham to re-establish the base, with the aim of transforming it into a strategic point for military operations in Africa, from which to directly supply Mali, Burkina Faso and, potentially, Sudan. This marks a new phase in Russian expansion on the African continent, after the loss of its positions in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime .
Russia is stepping up its involvement in Libya, transferring military equipment via dozens of flights between Benghazi and the Latakia base in Syria. In recent months, Moscow has expanded its presence in the North African country, strengthening its operations at its four main air bases:
(a) al Khadim base, in the east of the country;
(b) al Jufra base, in the center;
(c) al Brak al Shati base, southwest of Sebha, the capital of the Fezzan region; and
(d) Al Qurdabiya base, in Sirte, in the north-central area.
These bases host a variety of military equipment, including air defenses, MiG-29 fighters and drones, and are operated by a mixed contingent of Russian military personnel and Wagner Group mercenaries, far from the supervision of Libyan authorities.
According to Nova sources , Moscow has recently expanded its presence with a new military base, namely Maaten al Sarra, in an area that has historically had strategic importance. The same sources report that, in December 2024, Russia transferred large quantities of military equipment and sent a force of Syrian officers and soldiers to the base, many of whom had previously been deployed in Syria and left the country after the fall of the Assad regime.
The Syrian military, together with Russian technicians, have begun to put the base back into operation, restoring infrastructure such as runways and warehouses. However, the base still needs new facilities, including housing, warehouses, control towers and security fences. However, sources say the work will not take long and that Russia has already begun to take control of a base that has been abandoned for years in the Libyan desert.
The Maaten al Sarra base is set to become a key logistics hub for Russian operations in Africa, and an important hub for the flow of supplies to other areas of the Sahel, particularly Mali and Burkina Faso, where Russia has already consolidated its military presence. In addition, the base is also strategic for protecting supply routes to Sudan, a country experiencing serious internal instability.
According to “Nova” sources , a large military convoy of the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade – affiliated with the LNA Ground Forces Chief of Staff, Saddam Haftar – recently headed towards Maaten al Sarra to secure the area and protect the routes to Sudan, including the supply of weapons and fuel from the port of Tobruk, in north-eastern Libya, to Sudan.
Despite Russia’s growing military presence in the region, Nova’s sources point out that Moscow has distanced itself from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese paramilitary group commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo , known as Hemeti. Russia has in fact developed closer ties with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan , head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), while ties with Hemeti have cooled following the death of the Wagner group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin , in 2023. Be that as it may, the sources point out that the Russians do not oppose the flow of supplies from Libyan territory to Hemeti’s forces.
Another significant aspect of the Russian operation in Libya is the growing connection with the tribal communities of Fezzan, a desert region in southern Libya that extends towards Chad and Niger. The Russians have been able to forge alliances with local tribes, especially those who control the border areas, to strengthen their strategic position and access natural wealth, such as the gold mines of the Kalanga mountains. These mines, located in an area controlled by the Tebu tribes, are a valuable asset for Russia, which has intensified its presence in the region.
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