The global buzz is all about China in Africa, but another major player has also been positioning itself strategically in that continent: Russia.
Russia has significantly expanded its relations with African countries through assertive diplomacy and strategic partnerships. A recent landmark event in this development was the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Sochi on November 9-10, 2024. The forum addressed critical areas such as agriculture, defence, education, energy, investment, healthcare, mining, science, and political cooperation in international organizations. This event highlighted Russia’s increasing influence across Africa in trade, scientific collaboration, and diplomacy.[1]
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been instrumental in spearheading Russia’s Africa policy through multiple diplomatic tours across the continent since the Ukraine crisis. These engagements have focused on strengthening bilateral ties, addressing regional security issues, and challenging Western dominance in global systems.[2] This approach aligns with Russia’s broader objective of enhancing its geopolitical footprint in Africa[3] to counter U.S. and EU influence.
The Sochi summit was the outcome of several engagements that had intensified over the past two years. The Second Russia-Africa Summit,[4] held in St. Petersburg in July 2023, was one, significant milestone where 49 African countries participated, 17 at the head of state level. During the summit, President Vladimir Putin announced the cancellation of $23 billion in African debt owed to Russia, most in the form of debt a move that underscored Moscow’s commitment to supporting the continent’s development. This gesture positioned Russia as a viable alternative partner to Western powers and strengthened its image alongside China as a key player in Africa’s advancement.
Russia’s military engagement in Africa has also grown. In August 2024, 200 Russian troops, its newly established Africa Corps, were deployed to Equatorial Guinea. Their mission included training the presidential guard and providing protection for President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. This deployment reflects Russia’s increasing military footprint, which includes private military groups like Wagner operating in countries such as Mali and Sudan.
Trade between Russia and the African nations surged to a record $24.5 billion in 2024, showcasing deepening economic ties. Russian energy companies, including Rosatom, are playing a key role in building nuclear power projects across Africa, solidifying Russia’s economic presence. Additionally, strategic partnerships have expanded, with countries like Chad moving away from Western defence pacts in favour of closer cooperation with Russia.
Politically, Russia has leveraged its military and economic investments to position itself as a counterweight to the U.S. and the European Union. It has aligned its policies with African nations in international forums such as the United Nations, embedding itself in Africa’s political, economic, development and security landscape. This strategy reflects a broader ambition to challenge the traditional Western-led international order and establish Russia as a major influence on the continent.
The involvement in Africa has stepped up since the Ukraine conflict, with Russia looking for new friends.[5] High-profile visits, such as that of Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov to Burkina Faso in October 2024, underscore efforts.[6]
The most notable expansion has been through the Wagner Group, which offers security services in exchange for resource access. Following the death of its leader, Wagner was restructured into the Africa Corps, directly controlled by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, signalling a formalized military role. Nations grappling with security challenges, such as Mali and the Central African Republic, increasingly turn to Russia for support, driven by pragmatic needs and anti-Western sentiments.
Both China and Russia seek Africa’s bounty of resources, China’s infrastructure, and Russia’s security. Both countries need the resources to continue to build their infrastructure at home, for Russia an imperative for defence. Accordingly, , Russia has deepened its engagement in energy, mining, and agriculture. The 2023 Russia-Africa Summit emphasized trade’s strategic importance, especially following Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This shift has bolstered Russian grain exports to Africa, addressing food security concerns and enhancing its influence in the region’s natural resources sectors.
Aligning openly with Russia carries risks, including economic instability and potential exposure to Western sanctions. Consequently, many African nations have refrained from condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, citing historical ties and a desire for neutrality. Support for Russia’s stance on sovereignty and non-interference has been expressed at many forums, as African leaders avoid overt alignment with Western powers.[7] For them, maintaining relations with Russia is intricately tied to the broader geopolitical dynamics shaped by the Ukraine crisis.[8
Russia is borrowing a leaf or two from the China book too. It has signed agreements with Mali’s military junta for a nuclear power plant project – an area where Russia can do what others are reluctant to do. While trade between Russia and Africa has grown, rising from $9.9 billion in 2013 to $24.6 billion in 2023,[9] it remains relatively modest- barely a tenth – compared to the EU’s $288 billion and China’s $262 billion. It limits Russia’s overall economic influence on the continent.
There are other challenges, too. The reorganization of the Wagner Group[10] following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death has introduced uncertainty, potentially jeopardizing existing security contracts and undermining Russia’s military presence. Like many other countries, Russia’s focus on resource extraction is sometimes seen as exploitative, raising concerns about the sustainability of its influence. Moscow has made notable inroads, but its long-term success in achieving dominance in Africa remains uncertain due to these limitations.
China and Russia in Africa: Differences and Collaboration
Economic Scale and Focus
China and Russia differ significantly in the scale and focus of their economic engagements in Africa.
In 2023, China was Africa’s leading trading partner, dominated by infrastructure projects, including railways, highways, and ports, financed under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through extensive loans. In 2023, trade increased slightly by 1.5% to reach $282 billion This massive volume carries an African deficit of $64 billion.
Russia’s trade with Africa is 10% of China’s at $24.5 billion during the same period. Russia focuses on military cooperation, including arms sales and security support, alongside resource extraction in the energy and mining sectors.
Cultural and Soft Power Initiatives
China: China actively invests in cultural diplomacy through Confucius Institutes, scholarships for African students, and media collaborations, significantly enhancing its soft power.
Russia: Russia’s cultural outreach also includes student exchanges, but is more limited and relies on the historical goodwill from its Cold War-era support for African liberation movements
Military vs. Infrastructure
China: While maintaining a military presence, such as its naval base in Djibouti, China prioritizes infrastructure development and economic investments, avoiding direct involvement in African conflicts.
Russia: Russia’s engagement centres on military cooperation, providing arms deals, deploying private military contractors like the Wagner Group, and supporting regimes in exchange for resource access and political influence.
Political Influence
China: Pursuing neutrality in African conflicts, China emphasizes stability to safeguard its investments and maintain amicable relations.
Russia: Russia often intervenes in internal politics, supporting leaders or regimes in return for agreements that bolster its military and economic foothold.
Collaboration Between Russia and China
Despite these differences, Russia and China share strategic interests and collaborate in several areas in the African continent:
Mutual Opposition to Western Influence: Both nations position themselves as alternatives to Western powers, emphasizing sovereignty and non-interference.
Resource Exploitation Synergies: Russian security forces often protect mining sites operated by Chinese firms, showcasing informal cooperation in resource extraction.
Geopolitical Alignment: Advocating for a multipolar world, both countries support African nations’ inclusion in global platforms like BRICS and push for global governance reforms. Egypt and Ethiopia were admitted as members to BRICS in 2023 and Nigeria, Algeria and Uganda were added as Partners in 2024. Russia and China also support African representation in global bodies like the UN Security Council, advocating for reforms to address climate change, economic inequality, and fair governance. Their alignment strengthens Africa’s role in reshaping global diplomacy.
Military Collaboration: While direct arms collaboration is limited, Chinese technology and Russian weapons collectively shape African military capabilities. From 2018-22, Russia’s share of the arms market in sub-Saharan Africa was 26% compared to China’s 21% stake. From 2019-23, China’s share fell to 19% but exceeded Russia’s stake of 17%. Overall, arms imports by African countries plunged 52% between these two periods, suggesting a major revenue loss for Russia’s arms industry.
Naval Exercises: Joint drills with regional powers in the Gulf of Aden highlight shared interests in maritime security, indirectly protecting mutual investments.
Financial Cooperation: Although China leads in infrastructure financing under BRI, Russia collaborates with Chinese banks for joint ventures in energy and mining.
Challenges in Collaboration
Such alignment notwithstanding, collaboration is not without challenges:
- Competing Interests: Russia and China often compete for influence in resource-rich African nations, which could strain strategic partnerships.
- Public Perception: China faces scrutiny over debt diplomacy, while Russia is associated with instability through Wagner Group operations.
Strengthened Diplomatic Ties
In September 2024, both nations reinforced their partnership, committing to closer cooperation on African development and security issues. It reflects their shared goal of advancing a multipolar world that diversifies Africa’s partnerships, breaking away from traditional Western dominance.
Gurjit Singh is a former Indian Ambassador to Germany. He is currently promoting the impact investment movement for implementing SDGs in Africa.
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References
[1] Joint statements of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (Russian Federation, Sirius Federal Territory, 9-10 November 2024), Russian MFA, 11 November 2024, https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/russia_africa/1980801/
[2] Press release on the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Russia MFA, 10 November 2024, https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/russia_africa/1980737/
[3] Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Moscow, November 27, 2024, Russia MFA, 27 November 2024, https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/russia_africa/1983962/
[4] Declaration of the Second Russia–Africa Summit, Russia-Africa, 28 July 2023, https://summitafrica.ru/en/about-summit/declaration-2023/
[5] Madalena Procopio, Changing focus: How Europeans should respond to shifting Russia-Africa relations, ECFR, 23 October 2024, https://ecfr.eu/article/changing-focus-how-europeans-should-respond-to-shifting-russia-africa-relations/
[6] Uzochukwu Uchechukwu Alutu, The Russia-Ukraine War: Is Africa the Beautiful Bride?, Columbia Journal of International Affairs, Spring/Summer 2023, https://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/content/russia-ukraine-war-africa-beautiful-bride
[7] Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Impact on Africa, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/our-research/data-stories/russia-ukraine-impact-africa
[8] Denys Reva, Russia’s growing influence in Africa calls for more balanced partnerships, ISS, 26 June 2024, https://issafrica.org/iss-today/russia-s-growing-influence-in-africa-calls-for-more-balanced-partnerships
[9] Russia-Africa Trade Reaches New Heights with $24.5 Billion Turnover, Caspian News 15 November 2024, https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/russia-africa-trade-reaches-new-heights-with-245-billion-turnover-2024-11-12-38/
[10] Putin builds on Prigozhin’s foundations in Africa, Le Monde, 12 December 2024, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/08/23/putin-builds-on-prigozhin-s-foundations-in-africa_6720461_124.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com