Weekly Russia-Africa News Monitor #3 – 4-10 Nov 24
Trump returns, Russia-Africa summit returns, and disinformation never left
4-10 November 2024
Political relations
New UK sanctions on Russia also target Africa Corps, Reuters, 7 November.
Lavrov discusses trade, economic, investment, humanitarian cooperation with African counterparts, Interfax, 8 November.
В Сочи стартует первая конференция Форума партнерства Россия — Африка, RBK, 8 November.
Лавров встретился с министрами иностранных дел Алжира и Эфиопии, Vedomosti, 8 November.
Россия и Мавритания подписали меморандум о сотрудничестве в области культуры, Profil, 9 November.
Россия и ЦАР отменят визовые требования для владельцев диппаспортов, Vedomosti, 9 November.
Russia hosts African ministers to expand ties, AP, 9 November.
Le Burkina "peut cheminer" avec la Russie, estime la diplomatie burkinabè, VOA, 9 November.
Énergie nucléaire: le Rwanda compte sur la Russie pour former ses spécialistes, Le Figaro, 9 November.
Россия планирует открыть посольства в нескольких странах Африки, RIA, 9 November.
FM Gedion Timothewos holds talks with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Fanabc, 9 November.
Maghreb: ce pays veut renforcer son partenariat avec la Russie, La nouvelle tribune, 10 November.
Accord de consultations politiques : la RDC et la Russie renforcent leur partenariat stratégique, Infos27, 10 November.
Security and defence
Путин заявил о готовности РФ помочь Африке в сфере безопасности, Izvestia, 7 November.
Попова заявила, что Россия лидирует по выполнению требований биобезопасности, RG, 9 November.
Михно: Россия будет бороться с поддержкой киевским режимом террористов в Африке, RG, 9 November.
Over half of cyberattacks in Africa target government, finance sectors, study finds, KBC, 9 November.
Economic relations
Après le Mali, le Niger signe aussi pour des satellites russes, RFI, 4 November.
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship, Africa Intelligence, 4 November.
Russia eyes Zimbabwe's construction workforce, Business Insider Africa, 6 November.
Новые рынки станут ближе, Kommersant, 6 November.
Rosatom fuel division to work with South Africa on radioactive waste management, Interfax, 7 November.
Россия откроет торгпредства в Сенегале и Танзании, TASS, 9 November.
FIMI/media
From fuel subsidy to Russian flags: How anti-governance protests in Northern Nigeria took a foreign turn, Daily Trust, 6 November.
Le rejet de la France en Afrique davantage le fruit de ses politiques que de la désinformation, selon un rapport, RFI, 7 November.
Embassy watch
ZIPRA Veterans Reflect on Soviet Training, Chronicle, 4 November.
La fondation ”Innopraktika” offre une médiathèque à l’UCAD pour le développement des arts et des lettres russes, APS, 5 November.
Inside Russia
A Nigerian’s Tale of Moscow: Fashion, Food, and Warm Welcomes, Pulse Nigeria, 4 November.
Стартовали мероприятия деловой программы Первой министерской конференции Форума партнерства Россия – Африка, 9 November.
Russia-Ukraine-Africa
South Africa is eager to facilitate Russia-Ukraine peace talks, says minister Lamola, Mail & Guardian, 7 November.
China-Russia-Africa
Kenya’s Plan to Join China-Russia Led Coalition, The Kenya Times, 7 November.
Recent publications, analysis, scholarship
Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges, Analytical report published as part of the Russia-Africa ministerial forum, 8 November.
Relations France-Afrique : Tournons La Page publie un nouveau rapport, Tournons la Page, 7 November.
Olena Snigyr, Ideological Agenda of Russian Information Influence in Africa, Foreign Policy Research Institute, 8 November.
Ivan’s comment
The election of Donald Trump as the next US president will have all kinds of ramifications for the Russia-Africa relationship. First, the Trump White House might return to the idea of ‘strategic competition’, which will shape Washington's policies towards competitors (China, but also Iran and Russia), and the terrains of competition. Second, and in that sense, Africa is not a priority for Trump. It barely registers in his worldview. However, DC already pays plenty of attention to China and Russia, to the point where this focus might be distorting views on some topics. Security cooperation and Wagner/Africa Corps will stay on focus. Third, Trump will likely ditch the Biden policy of outreach to democracies around the world. This policy was never considered a success, and a return to Trumpian transactionalism. In turn, this might open a window for outreach with Russia-aligned governments, though no thaw can be expected. Fourth, a change of US policy on Ukraine will have knock-on effects for Russia's own approach to the continent, which is partly driven by Moscow's own conception of systemic competition. Fifth, Intelligence Online reports that Trump will likely carry out a purge in the US intelligence services. As much of Russia's approach to Africa involves the Russian spetssluzhby, this purge can risk derailing some US monitoring of Russian activities in the continent.
Speaking of DC, I had the privilege to present there this October my latest policy memo on Russia's wartime approach to the Horn of Africa. The memo was published online this week, free to access here.
Overshadowed by Trump was this week's Sochi Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, what is promised to be the first of a yearly follow-up of the Russia-Africa summit. According to the organisers, over 40 ministers attended from 23 countries. Last week last-ditch effort to get representatives from Benin and Togo appear to have paid off as the two countries are listed by organisers as having sent ministers to Sochi.
Finally, for French speakers, do not miss out on the report by Tournons la Page (link above) about the sources of anti-French sentiment across Africa. Drawing from hundreds of interviews with local activists, the report points to several sources for this attitude, today so prevalent across the continent. Disinformation is among these sources, and Russia is stoking the flames. Check it out!