Russia’s Africa focus will only be partial

Significance

The news comes soon after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov completed his first African tour since 2014 after visiting Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. By reinvigorating ties with Soviet-era African partners, Moscow is attempting to find new markets to compensate for losses incurred due to Western sanctions, as well as to diversify and expand its political presence globally.

Impacts

• African resources and markets will help Russian businesses strengthen their positions in the mining and mineral sectors globally.
• Russia’s African arms deals will provide a boost to its defence industry, which needs sales to sustain it.
• Local African elites will use Russian support to diversify their sources of foreign investment beyond the West and China.