Russia’s growing influence in Africa

Russia’s growing influence in Africa

Russian expansionism into Africa has historic roots. The question is if they have a long-term vision.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

It’s worth following Russia’s growing influence in Burkina Faso, Mali and other regions of Africa, especially in the gold producing countries of West and North Africa.

Russia’s renewed push is a concerted effort to expand its political, military and economic influence in the region and to capitalise on anti-Western sentiment.

Much of the strategy is built on tapping into the rich natural resources, especially the gold sector of West Africa.

Following several strategic deals by Russia in other parts of West Africa, Burkina Faso recently granted an industrial mining license to Russian miner Nordgold at the Niou gold deposit in the Kourweogo Province. Nordgold also operates the Bissa and Bouly in Burkina Faso.

The history of Russia in Africa

I dusted off a few of my old books about Russia’s historic adventures in Africa to get a bit of context and background about today’s forays and decided to do some spot reading in my latest acquisition “Russia in Africa” by Samuel Ramani.

The history of Russian expansion into Africa is fascinating and their presence in Africa by no means a new phenomenon.

In fact, Russia’s partnership with Egypt is the oldest in Africa. I quote from the book: “In 1556 Patriarch Joachim of Alexandria sent a letter to Tsar Ivan IV, urging Russia to assist after attacks by the Ottoman Empire.

“Tsar Nicholas II played an instrumental role in the 1890s to consolidate Russia’s interest in the Magreb. Nicholas viewed Egypt as the gateway to other Indo-Pacific regions.”

Later, Russia actively expanded its influence into Morocco, Libya, Ethiopia and part of West Africa.

Russia in South Africa

But most interestingly, Russia became embroiled in South African affairs as early as 1870.

“Russian forays into South Africa had sharp anti-colonial undertones. In 1870 British officials expressed fears that Russia would arm the Zulu’s.”

While this never happened, Russia’s policy in South Africa was preventative imperialism as it stymied British colonial expansion in Africa. Beyond sympathizing with their anti-British sentiments, Russia formed a value-based partnership with the Afrikaans Boers.

Russia seems to be resurgent in Africa again. However, its trade with Africa stands at just USD20-billion, lower than India and Turkey. (source: Ramani).

A great power or pretender?

The book deals with a very important question that decision makers in Africa might want to consider: “Is Russia a resurgent great power with a long-term strategic vision in Africa, or a bellicose pretender driven by opportunism and a desire to take revenge on Western powers?”

Read more about African politics and how current geopolitics are shaping the continent and affecting the natural resource sector in Africa on the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.

Russia’s growing influence in Africa