(HorizonPost.com) – Russia has claimed to have found evidence of the United States expanding its research into biological weapons in Africa. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who leads the Kremlin’s Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces, claimed on June 25 that America expanded the research on the African continent after Russia ceased its research into similar programs in occupied Ukrainian territories.
Kirillov stated that the U.S. Defense Department and connected agencies view Africa as a new area of interest, particularly where bioweapons are concerned. The general noted that Pentagon contractors were present in multiple Africa nations, such as Cameroon, the Democratic of Congo, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
Russia has itself been consolidating its influence in Africa in recent years. By 2024, several African nations had agreed to join the BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reportedly interested in joining BRICS, and Egypt and Ethiopia were among those who accepted offers to join in early 2024. Cameroon is also interested in joining the alliance.
The US military was forced to withdraw from Niger by the country’s junta, which took control in an armed coup in 2023. Niger’s government made the demands after the White House expressed concerns about the country’s relations with Iran and Russia.
For years Russia has been increasing its sphere of influence in Africa’s Sahel region, largely aided by the operations of the infamous Wagner mercenary group. Wagner rebranded following the untimely death of the group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin after his failed rebellion against Moscow.
The rebrand has done little to convince Western leaders and commentators, who argue that Russia relies on Wagner’s official status as a mercenary group independent from the Kremlin to deny claims that it is influencing African countries. Regarding the White House’s research on the African continent, Kirillov claimed that the US relies on outside agents to obscure the objectives of its research.
The general claimed that Washington is contracting EkoHealth Alliance, Metabiota and Quicksilver among others in addition to Big Pharma companies. Kirillov confirmed that the Kremlin has documents proving that the US is rapidly expanding the presence of its biological warfare research in Africa.
One of several examples of the alleged US research cited by the general involved a comprehensive study of hantavirus samples found in Kenya’s bats. The study was carried out by the US Army Medical Research Institute in October 2023.
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