Russian Africa Corps mercenaries incorporate Madagascar into their expansion across the continent

"During the meeting, Russia offered personal protection to the Malagasy leader, who has repeatedly stated that he feels threatened. In this way, Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to add Madagascar to the growing list of African countries under his direct influence, following the same pattern of protection and military cooperation in exchange for access to resources. This list already includes the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea, among others."

"Russian representatives donated weaponry, including 16 kamikaze drones, 50 pistols, and 50 Kalashnikov rifles, to the Malagasy Presidential Guard. Russia expressed its readiness to support and assist Madagascar, especially in the area of training and strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces. The delegation also confirmed that, if deemed appropriate for the national interest, this cooperation could extend to the economy. In early December, Randrianirina secretly traveled to Dubai to negotiate various economic projects with investors."

"There are people who want to assassinate me, he later said to justify the secrecy surrounding his trip. This sense of insecurity felt by a military man who came to power after the October coup is precisely one of the gateways for Russian influence in Africa. Moscow has followed the same pattern, for example, in the Central African Republic, one of its most successful cases on the continent."

A roughly 40-member Russian delegation led by General Andrei Averianov met Madagascar's interim president, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, in late December. Russia offered personal protection, donated weaponry including 16 kamikaze drones, 50 pistols, and 50 Kalashnikov rifles to the Presidential Guard, and pledged support for training and strengthening the Armed Forces. The delegation indicated cooperation could extend to economic projects if deemed in the national interest. Randrianirina traveled secretly to Dubai in early December to negotiate economic projects and later cited assassination threats. The move follows an established Russian pattern of security-for-influence across several African states.

Read at english.elpais.com