“Putin Offers ‘Full Support’ to Africa at Forum… Russia Pushes to Reopen Embassy in Niger, Abandoned by US and France”
In recent developments, Russia — under international sanctions due to the Ukraine war — is accelerating its cooperation with African countries.
On November 9-10, Russia demonstrated its bold steps to expand influence on the African continent during the first Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in Sochi, southern Russia.
According to TASS news agency, the event was attended by around 1,500 representatives, including 45 ministerial-level officials from African countries.
In a speech read by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the second day of the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, “Our country will continue to fully support our African friends in various sectors such as sustainable development, fighting terrorism and extremism, combating pandemics, addressing food issues, and dealing with natural disasters.”
Despite the ongoing war with Ukraine since February 2022, Russia continues to engage actively with Africa.
According to the Associated Press, Russia aims to strengthen relations with African countries to counter the perception of isolation due to Western sanctions.
Previously, in July of last year, President Putin promised to provide up to 50,000 tons of grain for free to six African countries, including Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe, during the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.
Russia is also working towards reopening embassies in countries in the Sahel region of West Africa.
Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, stated in a TASS interview on the 13th that “the procedure to appoint an ambassador to Niger is underway.”
Diplomatic relations between the former Soviet Union and Niger were established in 1972, but the Russian mission in Niger was closed in 1992 after the Cold War.
In December last year, Russia reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso for the first time in over 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Burkina Faso is a neighboring country to Niger.
It appears that Russia intends to expand its official diplomatic activities in Niger, where it had previously exerted influence through private mercenary companies like the Wagner Group (now the “African Corps”).
Niger, which was once a military base for the US and France in the fight against Islamic extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, has now become a representative country showcasing Russia’s rising stature in Africa.
In July last year, following a coup, Niger’s junta demanded the withdrawal of French forces, prompting France to withdraw all its troops from Niger by the end of that year.
Niger and its neighbor Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine this August, citing support for domestic rebels. In the same month, US troops withdrew from Niger.
Niger and Mali’s regimes are known to have requested military assistance from Russia instead.
Russia’s influence in Africa extends beyond security to areas like economics and more.
According to BBC, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop announced plans to examine joint projects with Russia in military cooperation, energy, communications, technology, and mining.
Central African Rwanda has been collaborating with Russian firm Rosatom on nuclear energy since 2019, following an agreement to build a nuclear power plant.
Concerns are being raised that the US’s standing in Africa could diminish further as Russia actively engages with African nations.
Reuters reported on the 11th that President-elect Donald Trump inherits a diminished US power in Africa and runs the risk of falling behind China and Russia in the region.
US President Joe Biden, since taking office, has not visited Africa and has only verbally advocated for including an African country in the UN Security Council as a permanent member.
Professor Jowon Bin of Sungkyunkwan University remarked, “China has long increased its investments in Africa, and Russia has worked to expand its influence through mercenaries not only through investment but also in the security domain. President-elect Trump, who showed little interest in Africa, might continue a similar approach in his second term.”