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The impact of Russian presence in Africa

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  • Kohnert, Dirk

Abstract

Putin attaches great importance to rebuilding Russia as a world power, including relations with Africa. But while the Soviet Union used to advocate socialist modernization in Africa, Moscow no longer offers socialist ideologies. Instead, it focuses on access to African elites, particularly authoritarian leaders. It also seeks to sway elections in its favour, particularly in fragile but resource-rich states. The Kremlin says it wants to avoid competing directly with other powers active in Africa. Instead, it wants to focus on countries where neither the West nor China dominates. There it expects to be able to work more effectively. But Russia, like China, is challenging Western norms, undermining US and EU sanctions. In addition, both strategic partners support non-interference in the internal affairs of states. In addition, Russia's relations with Africa have been significantly motivated significantly by its interest in African resources and security markets. Russia's resurgence in Africa benefits not least from Islamist terrorism, for example, in the Sahel and Mozambique. It uses fragile states and ongoing conflicts to secure lucrative arms deals and mining concessions. Moscow signed military cooperation agreements with 21 African governments, including negotiations on establishing military bases. It uses paramilitary contractors to manipulate the course of local conflicts in its favour. Since 2015, Russian-African trade has doubled to around USD 20 billion per year. Russia exported $14 billion worth of goods and services and imported about $5 billion worth of African products. In return, Moscow can count on the support of African leaders in foreign policy. Thus, Eritrea voted against a UN General Assembly resolution strongly condemning Russia's war in Ukraine. 18 other African countries abstained, including Mali, Mozambique, Angola and South Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "The impact of Russian presence in Africa," MPRA Paper 112554, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:112554
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Kameneva & G. Lukyanova & D. Tavberidze, 2018. "Foreign Relations and Inter-Civilizational Interaction from a Social-Political Perspective: The Case of Russia, Iran and Egypt," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 499-513.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "Moral Money in Sub-Saharan Africa? On ensuring ethics to drive sustainable investment," MPRA Paper 117779, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "The impact of Israel's Sub-Saharan relations on African migrants in Israel," MPRA Paper 118992, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "The impact of foreign relations between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab Golf states on African migrants in the region," MPRA Paper 119234, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "L'impact des relations subsahariennes d'Israël sur les migrants africains en Israël [The impact of Israel's Sub-Saharan relations on African migrants in Israel]," MPRA Paper 119007, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "L'impact de la guerre du Soudan de 2023 sur l'Afrique et au-delà [On the impact of the 2023 Sudanese war on Africa and beyond]," MPRA Paper 117583, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Will Putin"s Ukraine war provoke famine and upheaval in Africa," MPRA Paper 112751, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "La Russie et la montée du terrorisme islamique en Afrique subsaharienne [Russia and the rise of Islamic terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa]," MPRA Paper 113253, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "La CEDEAO, autrefois puissance affirmée en Afrique de l'Ouest réduite à un tigre de papier ? [ECOWAS, once an assertive power in West Africa, reduced to a paper tiger?]," MPRA Paper 118192, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "La guerre de Poutine en Ukraine provoquera-t-elle famine et révoltes en Afrique? [Will Putin's Ukraine war provoke famine and upheaval in Africa ?]," MPRA Paper 112809, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "Is water a blessing or a curse? How to address water conflicts in West Africa," MPRA Paper 118148, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "L'impact des relations extérieures entre l'Afrique subsaharienne et les États arabes du Golfe sur les migrants africains dans la région [The impact of foreign relations between Sub-Saharan Africa a," MPRA Paper 119251, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "L'eau, une bénédiction et une malédiction: comment résoudre les conflits liés à l'eau en Afrique de l'Ouest? [Is water a blessing or a curse? How to address water conflicts in West Africa]," MPRA Paper 118149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "La monnaie morale en Afrique subsaharienne ? Garantir l'éthique pour favoriser l'investissement durable [Moral Money in Sub-Saharan Africa? On ensuring ethics to drive sustainable investment]," MPRA Paper 117780, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "ECOWAS, once an assertive power in West Africa, reduced to a paper tiger?," MPRA Paper 118191, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Russia and the rise of Islamic terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 113618, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "La guerre de Poutine en Ukraine, causera-t-elle la faim et des troubles en Afrique ? [Will Putin's Ukraine war provoke famine and upheaval in Africa ?]," MPRA Paper 112768, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Russia; Africa; Sub-Sahara Africa; African affairs; international trade; global power; African resources; fragile state; Islamist terrorism; arms deals; BRICS; China; Eritrea; South Africa; Mali; Mozambique;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism
    • N17 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N47 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Africa; Oceania
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • P27 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Performance and Prospects
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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