‘Hand of Russia’ visible in African coups says AFRICOM boss

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Speaking virtually from Rome during the recent 2022 African Chiefs of Defense Conference, U.S. Africa Command’s Gen. Stephen Townsend said that “the hand of Russia” may be present in a few of the recent coups the African continent has seen in the past year.

Following a question during the Feb. 3 conference regarding the number of coups and the possibility of Russian or Chinese influence, Townsend made the rare move of specifically calling out Russia for its potential involvement in Africa, amid the international focus largely highlighting the ongoing build up of tensions with Ukraine.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SPC Margaret Higgins MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. PFC David Foster Sgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) PO2 Marco Monsalve LTC David Brown SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] PO1 Tony Holland SSG William Jones 1SG Dan Capri SPC Nancy Greene PO1 Tony Holland SrA John MonettePO1 Tony Holland