SouthernWorldwide.com – The commander of U.S. Africa Command has alerted lawmakers that Africa is now serving as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “purse” to fund the war in Ukraine. This comes as a diminished American military presence has created an “intelligence black hole” across the continent.
General Dagvin Anderson informed the House Armed Services Committee that Russia, China, and terrorist groups are rapidly increasing their influence in Africa. Meanwhile, the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces has weakened America’s ability to monitor evolving threats.
Anderson emphasized that Africa has become the “epicenter of global terrorism.” He noted that ISIS leadership is now concentrated on the continent, and al Qaeda affiliates are posing a threat by attempting to seize territory and destabilize governments.
“With a 75% reduction in our regional posture over the past decade, compounded by the drawdown of our allies, we struggle with an intelligence black hole,” Anderson stated.
“You cannot surge trust,” he added, explaining that the reduced U.S. presence has harmed long-term relationships and crisis response capabilities throughout Africa.
Anderson’s testimony presented a scenario where adversarial nations and extremist organizations are exploiting the same instability and governance gaps prevalent in various parts of the continent.
“Africa also serves as Putin’s purse, where Russia exploits instability to extract resources, including human lives, to fuel its war machine,” Anderson elaborated.
Russia has characterized its expanding presence in Africa as a security and anti-terrorism partnership with regional governments. This is particularly evident in countries from which Western and French forces have withdrawn. The Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, the successor to the Wagner Group, has been instrumental in filling security voids left by Western drawdowns in nations like Mali and Niger. The Wagner Group had previously expanded Moscow’s influence through military operations and security alliances.
Lawmakers also questioned Anderson about reports indicating that Russia has been recruiting African nationals. These recruitment efforts allegedly promise jobs and economic opportunities before transporting some individuals to fight in Ukraine.
Representative Mike Turner, R-Ohio, cited reports suggesting that as many as 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited and sent to the front lines in Ukraine via Russian-linked recruitment networks.
“It is disturbing how many Africans from across the continent are being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine,” Anderson confirmed.
Anderson further warned that terrorist organizations are taking advantage of weakened governance and the decreasing Western presence across parts of Africa, especially in the Sahel region.
“Today, the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa,” Anderson told the committee. “ISIS leadership is African. Al Qaeda’s economic engine is in Africa.”
“Both groups share the will and intent to strike our homeland,” he continued.
Anderson also expressed concern that al Qaeda affiliates are increasingly capable of controlling territory and disrupting governments in the region.
“The capture of a capital city would provide al Qaeda with all the trappings of a nation state,” he remarked.
Anderson also highlighted China’s strategic view of Africa as a “second continent.” He pointed to Beijing’s growing efforts to secure critical minerals and infrastructure across the region.
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He explained that China is aggressively expanding its influence in Africa through investments linked to critical minerals, infrastructure, and transportation networks. Beijing has focused for years on securing access to cobalt, lithium, copper, and rare earth minerals, which are vital for advanced defense systems, batteries, and other strategic technologies.
