The future of Russia-Africa relations
www.brookings.edu
Russia has been aggressively pursuing its strategic objectives in Africa in recent years—securing a foothold in the eastern Mediterranean, gaining naval port access in the Red Sea, expanding natural resource extraction opportunities, displacing Western influence, and promoting alternatives to democr
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Russia has been pursuing strategic objectives in Africa such as gaining naval port access and expanding natural resource extraction. Russia's approach is asymmetric, relying on mercenaries, arms-for-resource deals, opaque contracts, election interference, and disinformation. Russia's partnerships are not state-based, but rather elite-based, helping often illegitimate and unpopular leaders to retain power. This strategy works for Russia and the respective leaders, but is inherently destabilizing for citizens, resulting in stunted economic development, human rights abuses, disenfranchisement, and social polarization.
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- Russia has been aggressively pursuing its strategic objectives in Africa in recent years—securing a foothold in the eastern Mediterranean, gaining naval port access in the Red Sea, expanding natural resource extraction opportunities, displacing Western influence, and promoting alternatives to democracy as a regional norm.
- frica, thus, is a “theater” for Russia’s geostrategic interests rather than a destination itself—a perspective reflected in the means that Russia employs. Unlike most major external partners, Russia is not investing significantly in conventional statecraft in Africa—e.g., economic investment, trade, and security assistance. Rather, Russia relies on...
- Russia’s Africa-focused initiatives are typically concentrated on propping up an embattled incumbent or close ally: Khalifa Haftar in Libya, Faustin Archange Touadéra in the Central African Republic (CAR), and coup leaders Colonel Assimi Goïta in Mali and Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Sudan, among others.
- This strategy works for Russia and the respective leaders who gain international diplomatic cover, resources to consolidate power domestically, a mercenary force, arms, and revenues from resource deals. However, Russia’s opaque engagements are inherently destabilizing for the citizens of the targeted countries, resulting in stunted economic develop...
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