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Russia Ascends As Alternative Power Player in Africa, Post-Prigozhin

Published October 04, 2023
1 years ago

In the aftermath of Yevgeny Prigozhin's unexpected death in a plane crash, Russia has emerged as a key player in the African continent, irrespective of Prigozhin's formidability as a Wagner boss. The experts from international research groups and think tanks suggest that his death has not altered Russia's strategic orientation towards Africa.



At the Russia-Africa summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of countering Western neo-colonialism, a narrative that is strongly relevant in the matter of Africa's international relations. The evidence of Russia's growing influence is further solidified by figures revealing Russia as Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost arms supplier in 2022, surpassing Beijing in this role.


The diplomatic visits of the Russian military officials to countries like the Central African Republic and Mali and interactions with leaders from Burkina Faso underscore Russia's intentions on the continent. Furthermore, President Putin's decree requiring legionaries of Russian paramilitary groups to swear allegiance to Russia stands testimony to this pull.



International Crisis Group’s (Africa Program) Deputy Director, Pauline Bax, notes that Russia, particularly via the Wagner Group, has directly contested France's influence on its former colonies in Africa. Nonetheless, she notes that Russia's approach is devoid of investment in development aid or humanitarian assistance.


Russia’s terse response to criticisms regarding its support for governments accused of human rights violations underscores its architectural position in Africa. Yan St-Pierre from Eastern Circles think tank affirms that Russia's willingness to support without judgement offers a distinct alternative to what Western countries have proposed for decades.


This directional change in global power play was brought to center stage at the recent UN general assembly where African leaders vehemently voiced against any international paternalism. As the transitional president of Guinea noted, Africa seeks to maintain its independent position on the international stage without leaning towards any superpowers.


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