Russia has blamed the spread of terrorism across Africa on France’s role in the 2011 overthrow of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. According to Russian officials, the collapse of Libya after the NATO-backed intervention created a security vacuum that allowed extremist groups and armed militias to flourish across the continent.
Moscow argued that before Gaddafi’s removal, Libya played a stabilising role in North Africa. However, the fall of his government allegedly led to the uncontrolled flow of weapons, fighters, and mercenaries into neighbouring countries, worsening insecurity in the Sahel and other parts of Africa.
The Russian government also claimed that countries like Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso have suffered prolonged instability as a result of the Libyan crisis. Armed groups, according to Russia, exploited weak borders and fragile governments, leading to a rise in insurgency, banditry, and terrorism.
Russia used the occasion to call for a rethink of foreign military interventions, warning that such actions often bring long-term consequences for regional peace and development. It urged African nations to pursue homegrown security solutions while stressing that external powers must be held accountable for actions that destabilise entire regions.
