Draft:Russia-Africa relations

Russia-Africa relations start from 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union to the present-day. Russia has maintained its relations with several countries, and has competed with western powers over influence. Relations with Africa include military training, troops, trade.

History

Moscow's relations with Africa deteriorated after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, with China taking over as the continent's key foreign business partner. (Plagerized from https://www.dw.com/en/vladimir-putin-opens-first-ever-russia-africa-summit/a-50943192)

Russia helped with the Sierra Leone civil war.

Military

See: Wagner Group activities in Africa

In the 2020s, Russia has been increasing its military cooperation with multiple African countries, in order to compete with the US and France. They have signed military agreements with all six Portuguese countries, and French-speaking Sahel countries. The total since 2014 is 19 countries and growing. Wagner as of 2023 is estimated to have 5000 troops on the continent, made up of former Russian soldiers, convicts, and other foreign nationals.

Russia has intervened in the Libyan Civil War in order to support Khalifa Haftar. Wagner first intervened in Sudan in 2017, and provides training, political advice, weapons and troops to local governments, in exchange for resources like gold and oil. They have also intervened in Mali and the Central African Republic and Mozambique, and are politically involved or economically involved through private companies in several other African countries.

Approximately 1000 troops entered the CAR to defend President Faustin-Archange Touadéra against rebels in the capital Bangui. In return, Wagner received control over the Ndassima gold mine and logging rights.

They are also thought to be present in Burkina Faso, but the government officially denies its presence.

In Sudan, Russia backs the RSF, and protects Sudan's gold mines. Russia has been looking to establish a naval base in Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

South Africa has also been accused of funneling arms to Russia, a claim they deny.

Infrastructure

Russian corporations have signed agreements with countries such as Sudan and Mozambique. The Yadran group, an oil and gas company in Russia, holds a minority stake in gold refineries in Mali, and is investing in things such as oil extraction, nuclear power and a cotton processing plant. They have also built military infrastructure, such as helicopter hangars.

Trade

Russia's trade with the continent is tens of billions of dollars behind other nations, including China, the US, Italy, France, Germany, and the UK. Russia's main trading partners on the continent include Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, and Morocco. South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and Russia are also BRICS members.

Russia exports wheat and chicken to Africa. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has disrupted Africa's food imports.

Russia is interested in the continent's diamonds, gold, uranium, critical minerals, and oil.

The BBC reports that according to the World Gold Council, the three Sahel states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, produce around 230 tons of gold a year, worth about £11 billion ($15 billion).

Politics

Russia has used what is termed "memory diplomacy" in order to tap into anti-colonial resentment. It maintains ties with South Africa's African National Congress, which began under the Soviet Union, during the apartheid era.

Russia has also been accused of spreading misinformation. Facebook closed several accounts linked to Prigozhin, the head of Wagner. According to Facebook, they targeted at least 8 African countries. They also have a connection with Alexander Malkevich, who has been sanctioned by the US. Malkevich runs a think tank that calls for increasing Africa's relations with Russia, instead of the west. Russia media organizations have also been accused of spreading misinformation about the US's influence on the continent, and the war in Ukraine. They, assisting the local military juntas, have been accused of interfering in various African elections, and suppressing dissent, including human rights abuses. There are six military bases in Mali where civilians are kidnapped, detained, tortured and subject to forced labor. Sometimes the prisoners are released for ransom.

They have hosted several summits, which have seen mixed success. On 27-28 July 2023, the second summit of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum was held in Saint Petersburg. (Plagerized from this source: https://jordanrussiacenter.org/blog/mali-2023-how-russia-made-its-way-into-malian-life)

There have been multiple visits by the leaders to African nations to Moscow, which has not been seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russia has extended an invitation for African journalists to come to Moscow for training with RT and Sputnik. Russia's deputy minister for communications also suggested that specialists from RT and Sputnik could be sent to African countries to do the training there.