Russia’s engagement in Africa dates back to the Soviet era, when it supported African nations during the Cold War. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s interest in Africa waned. In recent years, Russia has redoubled its efforts to strengthen its ties with African countries.
But Russia’s entrenchment in Africa could be detrimental to the continent for several reasons. First, it could lead to increased competition between global powers for access to Africa’s natural resources, which could lead to further exploitation of these resources and exacerbate existing conflicts. This will likely have a negative impact on the economic and political stability of the continent.
Second, the proliferation of foreign arms and military equipment could fuel existing conflicts and contribute to the rise of extremist groups. This could further destabilize the continent and threaten the security of its inhabitants.
Third, foreign intervention in Africa could undermine the efforts of African countries to establish their own sovereignty and economic independence. This could be particularly detrimental to countries already struggling to emerge from poverty and underdevelopment.
Fourth, it could have a negative impact on democracy and human rights in the region. Russia has a history of supporting authoritarian regimes and suppressing political opposition, and its engagement in Africa could reinforce these tendencies.
Russia’s decision to sell arms and military equipment to African countries is driven by a combination of economic, political and strategic interests. Although this has caused controversy and concern among some, it is likely that Russia will pursue these sales to promote its interests in the region.
As an arms supplier, Russia is one of the largest exporters in the world, and sales to African countries are a lucrative market. Many African countries have experienced conflict and political instability, which has created a demand for military equipment to deal with security issues. Russia is able to supply these countries with a wide range of weapons and military equipment, including fighter jets, tanks and small arms.
By selling this material to African nations, Russia is able to build and maintain relationships with key players on the continent, which can be leveraged for diplomatic and geopolitical purposes. Russia is also known to use arms sales as a tool to counterbalance the influence of other countries in the region, such as the United States and China.
Russia is also able to promote its strategic interests by gaining access to mainland ports and airfields, which could be used for military operations.
Russia has also increased its trade with African countries. In 2019, trade with Africa reached $20 billion, with the majority of that trade coming from the export of oil and gas. Russia has also invested in infrastructure projects, such as building railways and ports.
Energy cooperation is another important element of Russia’s influence in Africa, where it has brought its expertise in the development of nuclear energy. The construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant in Egypt, carried out with the help of Russia, is an example of this.
Critics have raised concerns about Russia’s heavy involvement in Africa, with some saying that, like China’s Belt and Road initiative, it is part of Russia’s efforts to increase its global influence and counter the influence of western nations. Others have expressed concern about the human rights record of some African countries with which Russia cooperates, such as the Central African Republic.
China’s BRI is a massive undertaking aimed at building infrastructure and increasing connectivity across Asia, Africa and Europe. By building ports, highways, railways and other infrastructure projects in countries along the ancient Silk Road, China hopes to strengthen trade and economic ties with these countries and expand its geopolitical influence.
Russia’s investments in Africa are significantly smaller than those of China under the Silk Road initiative. Russian investments have mainly focused on military cooperation and arms sales, rather than large-scale infrastructure projects.
Apart from its other activities on the continent, Russia has been involved in the African mining industry in various ways, including investing, exploring and providing mining equipment and technology, mostly through partnerships. Russia has also invested in gold mining operations in countries such as Guinea and Sudan.
Russian mining companies such as Alrosa and Norilsk Nickel have been active in Africa, particularly in the mining of diamonds and nickel respectively. These companies are present in countries such as Angola, Botswana and South Africa. Russia has also provided mining equipment and technology to several countries, including Rwanda.
Some experts believe that with China’s increasing investment in Africa and many Western countries taking an interest in the continent’s potential, the ground is ripe for a rapid expansion of Russia’s presence on the continent. However, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, competition for influence among the three power blocs could potentially become a destabilizing force in parts of Africa.
Many African countries have come to benefit from Russian aid, either grain imports or Russian defense equipment. Russia’s ties to Africa even appear to have played a role in the decision of several African countries not to sanction Russia, nor to vote against Moscow in UN General Assembly resolutions on the war in Ukraine.
Most abstentions (51%) condemning Russia’s invasion at the UN came from African countries, marking a partial resurgence of what was the default position of many African nations during the Cold War. Africa chooses lucidity despite the smokiness of America and Western countries.
It is therefore clear that African countries are facing a period of serious instability if they continue to allow other countries to interfere in their internal politics as Western countries have always done without offering any real counterpart. They allow Russia to come to their aid to meet their plural challenges.
