Putin’s African Dream and the New Dawn | Geopolitical Handbooks by Modern Diplomacy

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Kester Kenn Klomegah is an independent research writer and a policy consultant on African affairs in the Russian Federation and Eurasian Union. He studied international journalism and mass communication, and later spent a year at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He has won media awards for highlighting economic diplomacy in the region with Africa.

Currently, Klomegah is a board member of the Regional Council on Development of Relations with Africa, an economic and trade policy organization created by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Moscow Region). As an author and frequent contributor to Modern Diplomacy, he writes on issues related to socio-cultural, political and economic relations on Russia, Africa and BRICS.

moderndiplomacy www.moderndiplomacy.eu

PUTINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AFRICAN DREAM AND THE NEW DAWN: CHALLENGES AND EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES KESTER KENN KLOMEGAH

contents

27 | Russia’s Absence in

48 | Experts Campaign to

Investment Sectors Wor-

Enlist Russia’s

ries Africa

Commitment to Africa

30 | Africa Brinks at Russia’s Investment

51 | US$62 million Boost for Women-Led Businesses in Africa

35 | The Truth About Russia And Africa

52 | Russia Looks for Media Presence in Africa

39 | Assessing Russia's relations with Africa

56 | Russian Culture Struggles for a New

44 | Russia–Africa:

Home in Africa

Partnership for Development

59 | Doing Business in Africa: Beneﬁts, Risks

46 | Russia, Africa and

and Challenges

the Energy Business 62 | Looking Ahead with Hope

Putin’s African Dream and the New Dawn: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities Kester Kenn Klomegah

Modern Diplomacy has put the ﬁrst anthology reﬂecting some aspects of the current geopolitical dynamics between Russia and Africa. This anthology consists of an introduction, a series of articles and a conclusion. While some aspects of the content could be considered arguable, we still believed that Russia-African relations in this new era would be characterized by the forging of an even stronger community with a shared future based on the principles of sincerity, mutual trust and respect for mutual prosperity. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

As history and several reports show, Russia has been striving quietly to become a major player in Africa. Starting with diplomatic efforts on African countries the Soviet Union supported in liberation struggles. Now, Russia is jostling the United States, European Union and Asian States for a piece of Africa and political inﬂuence in the resource-rich continent. To make the most out of these relationships, Africa and Russia have to harness their immense resources to foster a greater economic future for their people.

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boost employment and wealth creation for the beneﬁt of both sides. That said it is our sincere hope and expectation that the Sochi meetings provide a unique platform to promote fruitful and sustainable dialogue between Russia and Africa.

Russia has not distracted from its objective of assisting African countries to develop, but rather take advantage of the opportunities through its support for the development of critical infrastructure and manufacturing industries, make possible for expanding trade and engage in exporing natural resources across Africa.

Russia should give greater and careful consideration in drawing a long-term comprehensive roadmap to regional ﬂagship projects that would enhance the integration process to

In this context, both Russia and Africa need to adopt new approaches, mechanisms, and tools necessary for driving effective cooperation in order to take their relations to the next level as their signiﬁcance grows in the new conditions of world politics and economics. What steps are needed to give a new impetus to bilateral economic relations? What are the key initiatives and competencies that can create a deeper strategic partnership between Russia and African states?

These are among the key questions on the meeting agenda for the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit planned for October 2019 in Sochi under the cochairmanship of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Chairperson of the African Union. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

Russia and Africa: Partners in a Shared Future by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation

AFRICA is one of the world's most rapidly developing regions. According to the United Nations, the population of this continent will reach 2.5 billion by 2050. The level of urbanization in Africa is increasing as well: the proportion of the population living in urban areas is expected to reach 60 percent by 2050.

assistance. Over the past few years, we have held a number of high-level contacts, including with many of African leaders. Russia's trade with African states grew by more than 25 percent in 2017. Food supplies increased by 38 percent, metals – by 30, machinery and equipment – by 24 percent. Russian businesses are interested in working with African partners in a variety of areas, including industry, agriculture, healthcare, communications, geology and mining.

The domestic African market and consumer demand are expanding. Therefore, we need to think about involving our African partners and work with each of the many areas includ- I will give just a few examples ing the economy, ﬁnance, and of Russian companies' interacfood security. tion with countries. There is a joint work of Angolan compaRussia has always given prior- nies and the Russian company ity to the development of rela- Alrosa in developing the Katoka tions with African countries, diamond deposit, which acbased on long-standing tradi- counts for 6 percent of the tions of friendship and mutual world's diamond output.

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A joint venture was launched in Burundi to manufacture lighting equipment, with some of the products intended for export to other countries in East Africa. Senegal is implementing projects in agriculture and building poultry and ﬁsh processing plants. I would like to note in particular that Russia plans to increase its assistance to the development of the national energy sector in African states. We are implementing promising oil and gas projects with a number of countries, such as Angola, Mozambique, and Gabon.

In the nuclear power industry, where Russia is a technological leader, we offer our African partners the creation of an entire industry on a turnkey basis. Agreements on cooperation in the ﬁeld of atoms for peace have been signed with a number of countries in the region, while in some of them the work has acquired a practical dimension. All these projects will be of strategic importance for Africa, where, according to different estimates, as many as 600 million people still live without electricity.

strengthen the industrial potential, support local businesses and create new and well-paid jobs. On the whole, this will lead to an improvement in living standards and a solution of social problems in African states. Russia has a vested interest in intensifying interaction with African regional and sub-regional organizations, primarily with the African Union as well as the Southern African Development Community.

Quote: African nations confidently stride along the road of socioeconomic and technological progress, and play an everincreasing role in addressing issues on the international agenda. Multilateral cooperation in various areas is expanding and mutually beneficial processes are advancing within the African Union and other regional and sub-regional structures. I am glad to note the friendly constructive nature of relations will allow us to outline The amount of Russian assis- new forms of fruitful cooperatance to Africa exceeded US$1 tion between our countries. billion in 2017. Russian contributions to the World Food Pro- Vladimir Putin’s official greetgram fund are constantly ings to African Heads of State growing. Russia is the fifth and Government on Africa Day, biggest contributor to the May 25. UNIDO Industrial Development Fund. Considerable funds are remitted to the World Health Organization for the fight against non-infectious diseases on the African continent. Our work to combat the Ebola virus has proved highly efficient.

Further, Russia has trained professional personnel for countries of the continent. Currently, thousands of Africans are being educated in Russia. We will continue to build up coopA considerable part of Russian eration in this sphere. initiatives provides for localizing industrial businesses in In conclusion, we would conAfrica, including, among other tinue working with all heads of things, the construction of African states as well as organplants manufacturing compo- izing relevant meetings of nent parts and assembly prominent business people, exworks. perts, and public ﬁgures to strengthen and raise all asThe implementation of these pects of relations with African joint projects will serve to countries.

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Russia-African Economic Ties by Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister

Russia and African countries are bound by friendly relations and partnerships that have a solid historical foundation. But with all due respect for the past (and we must remember it), it is much more important to look into the future, forward, to jointly make various plans and to implement them together. I am convinced that this new agenda of Russian-African cooperation is predetermined by objective factors. First of all, by the transformation of the current system of international relations and global trade.

Globalization and new technologies have shifted economic growth centres to the emerging economies and developing countries. The number of active international players has increased, and competition between them has intensiďŹ ed.

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To retain their leading positions, former free trade advocates often use non-market methods of competition ranging from protectionism to trade wars. This explains the instability of goods and commodity markets, the global ďŹ nancial system, greater debts and inequality, including economic, social, technological and digital inequality. You know all this very well. We suggest that we search for answers to these challenges together. Especially if Russia and African states have similar approaches to addressing global problems. We share the opinion that there must be common rules of the game in international affairs, and we recognise the leading role of the UN and the UN Security Council.

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Russia appreciates the position of our African partners who distance themselves from antiRussia attacks (you know very well that there are many such attacks today) and support the idea of expanding the share of developing countries in global governance institutions. I am talking about the reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. It is diﬃcult to accomplish this because of the well-known position of some states, but it must be done all the same. Another objective reason for our rapprochement is the similar tasks facing our economies. Russia and all African countries have tremendous natural resources. According to some estimates, they account for 50 percent of the planet’s resource potential. We must use these resources effectively and simultaneously expand cooperation in this and other ﬁelds.

Africa is moving conﬁdently forward in these directions. Over the past few years, the continent’s economic growth rates have been steadily exceeding the average global growth rates. Experts predict that the total GDP of African countries will reach US$2.6 trillion by 2020. It is also very important that the continent’s business climate is improving thanks to improved legislation, the introduction of best practices, changing economic structures and a growing domestic market.

All this has already made Africa highly popular with investors. Apart from the mining sector, this also concerns cutting-edge technology and telecommunications, and this is particularly important. The Russian business community is involved in these projects. Such Russian companies as Rosoboronexport, the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and the State Development Corporation VEB.RF are establishing the national satellite communications and television broadcasting network.

The Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation is discussing a number of nuclear energy projects with several countries. At the same time, Russian companies are working successfully in the African mining sector. Russia scaled down its presence in the 1990s, but we have now started implementing some successful joint projects in the ﬁeld of geology, the mining industry, the energy sector, manufacturing, agriculture and the ﬁsheries sector. We must take advantage of all of these things without fail. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

It is also important that we implement as many of these projects as possible, that they encompass new venues and, of course, new countries. As we see it, the Russian Export Centre, which owns a large stake in the African Export-Import Bank, has a special role to play here. Today, the Russian Export Centre and the African Export-Import Bank are working on about ten promising Russian-African projects.

At the same time, there are not enough economic prerequisites for attaining a new quality of cooperation. It is also important to have a sincere desire. The Russian Federation and African countries now have this sincere desire, and I would like to specially mention this here today. We can see this at various levels, including high-level and top-level cooperation. The heads of four African states have visited Russia in the past few months. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

The business community is also interested in expanded cooperation. This is conﬁrmed by the growing trade between Russia and African countries. Although it increased by 17 percent last year, this is not enough yet, and more active efforts are needed. We are expanding cultural and humanitarian ties in line with international efforts to facilitate Africa’s comprehensive development and in the bilateral format. Educational projects are particularly important. Today, 17,000 African students are studying in Russia, and I hope that this ﬁgure will also increase.We can achieve more in all areas. We simply need to know each other better and be more open to one another. This is the purpose of our conference. We see it as a key stage in detailed preparations for the Russia-Africa summit, scheduled to be held in October in Sochi, Russia.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the incumbent African Union Chairperson, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, will chair this ﬁrst full-format summit in history. The leaders of most African countries and the heads of regional organisations have conﬁrmed their readiness to take part in the summit. Indeed, this will be a truly momentous event. We believe that it will usher in a new era of Russian-African cooperation, as I have noted earlier. I am sure that all of us will succeed if we work this way. Even if some things seem impossible, this situation persists only until it has been accomplished. It was Nelson Mandela who made this absolutely true statement.

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Russia’s Economic Landmarks in Africa

Question: Africa is a huge continent that still requires economic development. Its active demographic growth and abundance of natural resources are creating conditions for the emergence of probably the world’s biggest market in the next few decades. Russia is an advanced industrial country with a relatively small population and considerable natural resources. How should Russia and Africa develop mutually beneﬁcial economic ties? What economic branches, or to be more precise, what goods and services can make up a foundation for such relations?

Sergey Lavrov: Africa is rich in raw material resources, including those that are required for high technology and for moving to a new technological pattern. We have a number of examples of productive cooperation in this area.

Alrosa is involved in diamond mining in Angola’s largest Katoka deposit. In Guinea, RUSAL is mining bauxite at the Friguia deposit and works under the Dian-Dian concession agreement. RUSAL owns 85 percent of Alscon, a Nigerian aluminium company. A consortium of a number of our GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

companies, including the Vi Holding investment and industrial group is developing Darwendale, a project on one of the largest deposits of platinumgroup metals in Zimbabwe.

Rosneft has won a tender for gas prospecting on the continental shelf in Mozambique. Nordgold is mining gold in Burkina Faso and Guinea, while Global Resources is involved in geological prospecting for gold in Mali and uranium in Niger. GeoProMining is involved in extracting and processing of titaniferous sands in GuineaBissau, Renova is mining manganese ore in South Africa, while Severstal is taking part in developing a phosphate deposit in Guinea-Bissau. These and other examples allow us to look to the future with optimism.

Apart from mining, Russia and African countries are cooperating on high technology. Rosatom is considering a number of projects that are of interest to Africans, for instance the creation of a nuclear research and technology center in Zambia. Nigeria has a similar project. There are good prospects for cooperation with Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Talks are underway on the construction of a nuclear power plant in South Africa. We will do our best to raise trade and economic ties to a high level of political cooperation. Deﬁnitely, time is needed to solve all those issues.

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QUOTE: “Africa is one of our priorities. Our political ties in particular are developing dyna mically. But, our economic cooperation is not as far advanced as our political ties. We believe that we should promote joint activity in order to make broader use of the huge potential of Russian-African trade and investment cooperation.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the Hommes d’Afrique magazine

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Towards the First Russia-Africa Summit

China has offered US$60 billion, Japan US$32 billion, and India US$25 billion, while large investment funds have also come from the United States and European Union, all towards realizing the SDGs in Africa. Russia has not pledged any funds. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to establish a committee that will be in charge of preparing for and holding the Russia-Africa Summit in October 2019 in Sochi on the Black Sea. This is the ﬁrst in a series of articles on Russia’s decision to join the new “Scramble for Africa” nearly 28 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. – The Editor-in-Chief

In an oﬃcial February 25, 2019 decree posted to the portal of legal information, Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed his aide Yuri Ushakov to chair the organizing committee paving the way for the ﬁrst Russia-Africa Summit that Moscow plans to host in Sochi.

The Russian government is to ensure ﬁnancing of the expenditures related to hosting the summit and the decree has further assigned Roscongress, a major organizer of international conventions, exhibitions and public events, the task performer. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

The idea to hold a Russia-Africa forum was initiated by President Putin at the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Johannesburg in July 2018. This first Russia-Africa summit will definitely enhance mutual multifaceted ties, reshape diplomatic relationship and significantly to roll-out ways to increase effectiveness of cooperation between Russia and Africa.

Policy experts have suggested, however, that Kremlin has to substantiate its future African policy agenda with consistency, activeness and support, and enhance its participation in the economic development of Africa. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

“Indeed, through the summit, Russia has to discover speciﬁc expectations, new directions and how to deal with Africa. The games there have completely changed, many global players have also adopted investment strategies more appealing and acceptable for Africans,” Dr. Kelvin Dewey Stubborn, South African based Senior Analyst on BRICS and African policy, emailed from South Africa. He suggested that “the RussiaAfrica summit to focus discussions on new developmentoriented thinking and how to transfer Russian technology to industry and agriculture more collaboratively, and a lot more

cooperation on employment creation across sectors. That’s the best way to sustain peace and eradicate conﬂicts in Africa.”

South African business tycoon, Sello Rasethaba, questioned how Russia was going to establish a thriving trade relationship with Africa for the beneﬁt all and sundry. In reality and effective practical terms, how Russia wants to reposition itself in relation with Africa. With business relationship, Russia has to consider practical strategies in consultation with African countries. The fact that the middle class is growing in leaps and bounds in Africa makes this market

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even more attractive and opens using one tenth of our capacimore opportunities for Russian ties on investment promotion businesses. at the international platforms,” he added. “The current investment and business engagement by for- Essenowo further argued that eign players with Africa is on the future of Russia-Africa relathe increase. There are so tions has to take into cogmany unknowns up there in nizance the true meaning of Russia, it’s crucial that Russia building a platform for civil, has a clear vision of the rela- media and cultural as well as tionship it wants with Africa. people-to-people interaction, Russia together with African helping to change the attitudes countries must setup sovereign and mentality, remove old wealth funds using the re- stereotypes, – these are imporsources power of those coun- tant steps for improving busitries,” he said. ness cooperation. In addition, Russia could help to deepen unThere are similar views and derstanding through regular disentiments. Rex Essenowo, alogue with the civil society and Member of the Board of governments, as basis for ecoTrustees of Nigerians in Dias- nomic growth, development, as pora Europe and Senior Execu- well as motivation for confitive of Asian Africa Trade, a dence among Russian inMoscow based business lobby- vestors within the region. ing NGO, said it was unfortunate that some people Despite its global status, Rusconsistently undermine Africa’s sia lacks assertiveness in strategic interest, that is infra- Africa. Zimbabwe’s Ambassastructural development and lift- dor to Russia, Major General ing its vast population out of (rtd) Nicholas Mike Sango, told poverty in Africa. Playing the me in an interview discussions conflict card is strategically de- that, “For a long time, Russia’s structive because the warring foreign policy on Africa has parties want to present Africa failed to pronounce itself in as unsafe for investments. practical terms as evidenced by the countable forays into Africa “It is for African leaders to re- by Russian officials. The Russmain focused on the right direc- ian Federation has the capacity tion, resolute in conflict mana and ability to assist Africa overgement and as well rolling out come these challenges leveragnew implementable policies ori- ing on Africa’s vast resources.” ented towards building infra- Mike Sango further expressed structure, modernizing agri his views as follows: “Africa’s culture, investment in manufac- expectation is that Russia, turing and industry – these will while largely in the extractive inoffer employment for the youth. dustry, will steadily transfer Meanwhile, we are not even technologies for local process-

ing of raw materials as a catalyst for Africa’s development.” Many former Ambassadors, mostly from Southern African region, have also tasked African leaders to prioritize concrete development projects and reminded them that it was necessary to make rational choices, push for “African solutions to African problems” within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when they ﬁnally gather at the forthcoming October summit in Sochi.

The summit sessions have to discuss thoroughly “the whole range of development issues that will ultimately form the future African agenda” and analyze them through the prism of rivalry and competition among foreign players on the continent, according to a summarized separate media interviews with the former African envoys who served in the Russian Federation. Now, Africa ﬁnds itself in an excellent position of having many suitors – each offering something it needs for its development, they acknowledged.

Quite recently, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma, told an instant meeting held with the Ambassadors of African countries in the Russian Federation, that Russia would take adequate steps to deliver on pledges and promises with Africa countries. “We propose to move from intentions to concrete steps,” Volodin reassured. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

On the summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has explained earlier that arranging an event on such a large-scale with the participation of over ﬁfty heads of state and government required most careful preparation, including in terms of its substantive content and equally important was African businesspeople who have been looking to work on the Russian market.

“The economic component of the summit has a special significance as it would be of practical interest for all the parties. As such, specific Russian participants in bilateral or multilateral cooperation should be identified, which are not only committed to long-term cooperation but are also ready for large-scale investments in the African markets with account of possible risks and high competition,” Minister Lavrov noted in an interview posted to his official website. For decades, Russia has been looking for effective ways to promote multifaceted ties and new strategies for cooperation in energy, oil and gas, trade and industry, agriculture and other economic areas in Africa.

President Vladimir Putin noted at the VTB Capital’s Russia Calling Forum, that many countries had been “stepping up their activities on the African continent” but added that Russia could not cooperate with Africa “as it was in the Soviet period, for political reasons.” In his

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opinion, cooperation with African countries could develop on a bilateral basis as well as on a multilateral basis, through the framework of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

As publicly known, China has offered US$60 billion, Japan US$32 billion, and India US$25 billion, while large investment funds have also come from the United States and European Union, all towards realizing the Sustainable Development But so far, Russia has not Goals (SDGs) in Africa. pledged adequate funds toward implementing its business projects and other policy objectives in Africa. Russia’s investment efforts in the region have been limited thus far which some experts attributed to lack of a system of financing policy projects. While Russia government is very cautious about making financial commitments, Russia’s financial institutions are not closely involved in foreign policy initiatives in Africa.

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Infrastructure Development Key to Africa’s Growth Over the years, African Union oﬃcials have repeatedly urged African leaders to prioritise Africa’s Agenda 2063 – a strategic framework for delivering on Africa’s goal for inclusive and sustainable development – and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 15-member UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming AU initiatives for infrastructure development and pledging support for "African solutions to African problems" in an attempt to achieve the SDGs.

UN officials note that many African countries have failed to substantially reduce abject poverty, rising unemployment, marginalisation of social groups and widening inequality – which constitute the primary root causes of conflicts – in many regions of Africa. Africa’s economy, they argue, has remained largely based on subsistence agriculture with little development of the industrial or service sectors, while the continent’s huge infrastructure deficit could be business for foreign investors. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

Odinga also called for a more united Africa, arguing that by uniting the continent would increase its bargaining power. "A united Africa will be able to pool its investment resources to ensure it has enough resources to invest in large-scale projects," he said.

In May, at a forum held in Nairobi, Raila Odinga, AU high representative for infrastructure development in Africa, urged African leaders to redirect adequate funds from their ﬁnancial budgets into infrastructure in attempt to stimulate growth on the continent.

"African leaders have to create more dynamic mobilisation strategies and explore domestic borrowing to accelerate the project implementation pro cess. To enable Africa to compete adequately, we must redirect more ﬁnancial resources towards completion of projects that form major connectivity to "Africa continues to be charac- the world," Odinga said. terised by an infrastructural deﬁcit, a situation that remains He called for the completion of critical, with an average gap major development projects standing at US$170 billion," such as the Tran-Saharan HighOdinga said. He called on infra- way from Algiers in Algeria to structure stakeholders inside Lagos in Nigeria, an intercontiAfrica and interested foreign nental railway for fast trains, partners to develop a more the Kinshasa-Brazzaville comprehensive set of instru- Bridge, and the Lagos-Abidjanments and service delivery Dakar Highway, all key links for mechanisms to enhance imple- connecting Africa and creating mentation of major infrastruc- jobs for young people from member states. ture projects.

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Many foreign players have been very active in supporting the building of infrastructure in Africa. While visiting Moscow, Southern Africa Development Community, Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax said in an interview discussion that "Russia and Africa have been partners for many years, and have expressed a desire to achieve a new level in their relations." She observed that Russia has not been as visible in the region as China, India or Brazil, but said it is encouraging that Russia has recently repositioned itself to become a major partner with Southern Africa. Russia’s interest is in line with SADC priorities as highlighted by the following priorities of foreign economic strategy in the region: •Prospecting, mining, oil, construction, mining, purchase of gas, oil, uranium, and bauxite assets (Angola, Namibia and South Africa); •Construction of power facilities: hydroelectric power plants on the River Congo (Angola, Namibia, and Zambia,) and nuclear power plants (South Africa);

•Creation of a ﬂoating nuclear power plant, and South African participation in the international project to build a nuclear enrichment centre in Russia; •Railway construction (Angola); •Creation of Russian trade houses for the promotion and maintenance of Russian engineering products (South Africa); and •Participation of Russian companies in the privatisation of industrial assets, including those created with technical assistance from the former Soviet Union (Angola).

Ten SADC member countries have diplomatic oﬃces in the Russian Federation: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Southern African region is the integrated market resulting from a combined population of approximately 327 million people, and a collective GDP of US$600 billion (2016), supported by generally favourable weather conditions in most parts of the region. The goal of SADC, an inter-governmental organisation headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, is to further socioeconomic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 16 Southern African states.

Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and

Africa, and Deputy Foreign Minister, has urged the global community to go beyond military cooperation to assist African countries that are still facing a number of serious development problems particularly in terms of infrastructure, social inequality, healthcare and education.

According to Bogdanov, trans national problems, the issues of arms smuggling, drug trafﬁcking, illegal migration and even slavery continue to escalate on the African continent. "The joint efforts of the whole global community are required for meeting those challenges. I am conﬁdent that the aid to African states should go beyond military components," the Russian diplomat stressed.

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whether a more collaborative effort was needed.

Bogdanov’s advice to the global community to go "beyond military cooperation" came at a crucial time in which, as part of the foreign policy, Russia has increasingly stepped up exports of military equipment through its "military-technical cooperation" instead of assisting with needed investment in economic sectors in African countries.

In March 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Commission for Military-Technical Cooperation with Foreign States and Kremlin’s website transcript pointed to the geographic reach of military-technical cooperation as constantly expanding, with the "It is necessary to fortify public number of partners already in institutions, engage in eco- more than 100 countries worldnomic and humanitarian fields, wide. construct infrastructure facilities, and create new jobs," Bog- "Russia has revived its contacts danov said, adding that "those with its African comrades that are the ways of solving such used to be the traditional buyproblem as migration, for ex- ers of Soviet weaponry. It is a ample, to Europe." similar policy, in the sense, that they are using military diploBogdanov was contributing to macy once again in order to discussions on "Engaging gain stature and influence in Africa in Dialogue: Towards a certain countries," Scott Firsing, Harmonious Development of a visiting Bradlow fellow at the the Continent" at the 2018 Dia- South African Institute for Interlogue of Civilisations Forum national Affairs (SAIIA), wrote held in Rhodes, Greece. Plenary in an emailed discussion. discussion aimed at identifying the priorities for and issues Shaabani Nzori, a Moscowspecifically holding African based foreign policy expert, arcountries back, and whether guably believes that Russia’s competition between the West military-technical cooperation and Asia could benefit Africa, or with African countries is approGEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

These often include oﬃcer training and the sale of military equipment, though the details are rarely publicly available," Borshchevskaya said.

priate in Russia’s foreign policy but African leaders should also have to make rational choices, allocating enough money to spend on priority development projects in Africa.

governments such as Angola, Algeria, Namibia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. That Soviet-era form of diplomatic engagement left many African countries indebted to the tune of "It shows clearly Russia’s busi- US$20 billion. ness engagement direction with Africa,” Shaabani said in an Anna Borshchevskaya, an Ira interview. “Until now, we can’t Weiner fellow at the Washingpoint to completed Russian in- ton Institute for Near East Polfrastructure projects in Africa. icy, explicitly observes that the There are many investment military has been part of the areas. What is important these foreign policy of the Russian days is that Russia must go be- Federation, and Russian authoryond selling arms to Africa! ities have been strengthening Still, Russia has the chance to military-technical cooperation transfer its technology to agri- with a number of African counculture and industries in Africa." tries. During the Cold War, the Soviet "A major driver for Moscow’s Union provided huge deliveries push into Africa is military coof arms to a number of African operation more broadly.

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Russian President Putin has said that a major part of Russia’s weapons business includes new equipment supplies, upgrades, and refurbishment of Soviet-era technology and hardware. "Russia places special emphasis on developing countries that gradually increase military procure ment. We understand that competition in this sector of the international economy is very high and very serious," he noted.

According to the Kremlin website, Russia targeted global export contracts worth US$50 billion in 2018. Russia’s export priority is to expand its scope and strengthen its position on the market. Last year’s results indicated that Russia has been keeping its standards high, conﬁrming its status as one of the leading suppliers on the global arms market. The portfolio for Russian arms and military equipment stands at US$45 billion. Russia plans to enhance multifaceted interaction with African states on a bilateral and multilateral basis with a focus on promoting mutually beneﬁcial trade and economic cooperation.

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Vox Populi: SDGs Could Offer Russia New Opportunities, say former Ambassadors Former Ambassadors who served in the Russian Federation have been impressing upon African leaders and entrepreneurs to prioritize their sustainable development needs for which they would like to seek Russian investors in economic sectors of interest to them. In separate interviews, they have been abundantly clear how to stimulate African governments to explore best investment opportunities in Russia and woo Russian investors into developing Africa's SDGs within a framework of bilateral cooperation. Former South African Ambassador, Mandisi Mpahlwa, said that Sub-Saharan Africa has understandably been low on postSoviet Russia's list of priorities,

given that Russia is not as dependent on Africa's natural resources as most other major economies.

The reason: Soviet and African relations, anchored as they were on the ďŹ ght to push back the frontiers of colonialism, did not necessarily translate into trade, investment and economic ties, which would have continued seamlessly with post-Soviet Russia. "Of course, Russia's objective of taking the bilateral relationship with Africa to the next level cannot be realized without close partnership with the private sector. Africa and Russia are close politically, but they are geographically distant, and the people-to-people ties are still GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

rather under-developed. This translates into a low level of knowledge on both sides of what the other has to offer. There is perhaps also a measure of fear of the unknown or the unfamiliar in both countries," according to Mpahlawa.

noted long ago in his comments that Africa's drive for sustainable democratic governance, backed by an enhanced economically viable environment, is of paramount importance. Many African leaders are realising the need to eradicate poverty and give people a susAccording to former Ethiopian tainable environment. Ambassador, Professor Dr. Teketel Forssido, one of the "It is Africa's hope that foreign biggest problems has been the authorities will back us in this keen competition from the direction. It is important to reUnited States, Europe, China mind foreign investors that inand India, countries with more vestment opportunities for advanced technological and de- developing large and mediumvelopment oriented solutions. scale enterprises are abound in They have become, over the Africa. The importance of the past decades, "investment pa- informal sector in generating trons" in African countries. In employment and promoting fact, this is what Africa needs: self-reliance through higher policy directed towards the de- productivity. We implore Russian investors to take advantage velopment needs of Africa. of these new potentials," Air Former Nigerian Ambassador, Commodore Dan Suleiman Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, stressed in discussions. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

Undoubtedly, the Russian government’s stance on supporting an African policy that deploys plausible solutions to resolve the continent’s inﬁnite problems should be extolled, wrote former Tanzanian Ambassador, Dr. Jaka Mgwabi Mwambi.

He said: "Tanzania is currently on the verge of a bitter wrangle with iniquitous restraints,” as the country “is proactively moving steadfastly toward a middle-income economy."

Former Kenyan Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dr. Paul Kibiwott Kurgat explained in an interview that any platform created for African leaders has to address thoroughly development-oriented questions. Kenya's diplomacy has mostly focused on strengthening economic cooperation with foreign countries.

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"Looking at the global development, Kenya would always like to build on this long history of strong and comprehensive engagement, ﬁrst and foremost, through developing closer ties with Russia in trade, investment and economic cooperation. So, my advice to African leaders is to think objectively, ﬁrst about effective ways how to improve the economy," he said.

The Government of Kenya's priority sectors range from infrastructure and energy development, industrialization and agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, among others. Development opens a myriad of investment opportunities to all potential foreign investors across the globe including Russia, Paul Kurgat added in his emailed comments from Nairobi, Kenya.

Former Mozambican Ambassador to Russia, Dr. Bernardo Marcelino Cherinda, emphasized that the changes in Russia have provided a greater impetus for forging new diversiﬁed relations, especially in the economic sectors, in Africa. By this measure, African leaders have to work relentlessly for a more effective cooperation and use political dialogue to remove obstacles that might hinder smooth progress and development. Whether they like it or not, African leaders have to make rational decisions to align their efforts and policies with the key goal of developing or building their economies, the Mozambican diplomat said.

He urged both Russia and Africa to facilitate participation in the private sectors, and also get involved in medium-sized economic partnership, joint ventures, agro-processing industries, and health and education. African leaders do not have to, in the least, doubt the enormous potentials that exist, the former envoy added.

"And, I think it's equally important that Russia and Africa focus seriously on cultural aspects in their activities in order to bridge the widening information gap between the two. Russia has made the mark and it's respected for its indelible historical achievements, literature and for human values. The use of soft power as an instrument for new image-making initiatives has to be intensiﬁed," Cherinda advised.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Dr. Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, the ﬁrst woman to lead the 54-nation African Union Commission (AUC), have also been discussing the ways and means of encouraging Russian corporations’ participation in major infrastructure projects on the continent. The current AUC Chairperson, Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat, has also held discussions on Africa's Fourth Industrial Revolution and has been at pains to enlist Russia's effective support for the bloc’s Agenda 2063.

On his part, Foreign Minister Lavrov for the past one and half decades, since his appointment in 2004, has also been holding in-depth discussions on the situation in Africa, repeatedly pointing to the possibility of continuing to promote effective bilateral cooperation in many Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Ex- spheres and working together ecutive Secretary of the South- towards exploiting the existing ern African Development potentials. Community (SADC), during the Russia-SADC business forum Lavrov has many times assured held in February 2019 in that Moscow ﬁrmly supports Moscow, stressed in discus- the principle of "African solusions with Russian authorities tions to African problems" that strengthening ties in a within a framework of achievbroad range of economic ﬁelds ing the Sustainable Developwould show that SADC truly re- ment Goals (SDGs) as mains as one of Russia's key developed by individual African partners in Africa. SADC is an countries, sub-regional organiinter-governmental organiza- zations and the African Union. tion with its primary goal of deepening socio-economic cooperation and integration in the southern region.

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Russia’s Absence in Investment Sectors Worries Africa

Despite its highly praised global status, experts and researchers said Russia has still lagged far behind economic engagement, compared to key foreign players, in Africa since Soviet’s collapse in 1991.

In separate interviews, they pointed to how the African continent is more conﬁdently integrating into the world economy and called for more development-oriented foreign policies that would help the continent overcome its development problems, reviewing some of policy approaches and strategies towards Africa.

“The most recent visit of the Russian Foreign Minister H.E. Sergey Lavrov to the Republics of Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia and Zimbabwe, (as we understand it) was largely focused on signing of economic cooperation agreements to attract Russian investments in key areas such as mining, aviation and energy sectors, as well as fostering military technical cooperation,” she told Buziness Africa in Moscow.

In his statement, the Minister Lavrov noted that Russia together with Africa wanted to elevate trade, economic and investment relations to a level In an exclusive interview, the Ex- that would meet political and ecutive Secretary of the South- trust-based relations, explained ern African Development Com Lawrence Tax. munity, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, said Russia has a long his- Like most of the developing tory of bilateral engagements countries, Southern African with the Southern African coun- countries have, over the years, largely relied on multilateral tries. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

and regional development ﬁnancial institutions to fund their development projects.

In this regard, SADC welcomes investors from all over the world, according to the Executive Secretary, and added “In reality, Russia has not been that visible in the region as compared to China, India or Brazil. But, it is encouraging that, of recent, Russia has positioned herself to be a major partner with Southern Africa and being part of the BRICS promotes her engagement with the region, particularly in investment in minerals, aviation, defense and energy sectors.”

In March 2018, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, visited the Southern Africa region where he held talks with the Presidents of Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Hommes d’Afrique magazine before embarking on the African tour early March 2018 that “our African friends note the need for Russia’s active presence in the region, and more frequently express interest in holding a Russia-African summit. Such a meeting would undoubtedly help deepen our cooperation on the full range of issues.”

In another interview with (H.E.) Ambassador Major General (rtd) Nicholas Mike Sango willingly shared his objective views on a few current issues connecting Russia and Africa. He

says there is growing realization that Africa is an important partner in the “emerging and sustainable polycentric architecture of the world order” as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has aptly asserted.

“For a long time, Russia’s foreign policy on Africa has failed to pronounce itself in practical terms as evidenced by the countable forays into Africa by Russian oﬃcials. Africa desires economic upliftment, human security in the form of education, health, shelter as well as security from transnational terrorism among many challenges aﬄicting Africa. The Russian Federation has the capacity and ability to assist Africa overcome these challenges leveraging on Africa’s vast resources,” Ambassador Mike Sango explained during the discussion.

“The most conspicuous aspect of Russia’s involvement in Africa is its absence,” says John Endres, Chief Executive Oﬃcer of Good Governance Africa from South Africa, adding that “whereas the Soviet Union was quite extensively engaged in Africa, Russia has almost entirely abandoned the ﬁeld to other foreign players during the past two decades.”

Professor Gerrit Olivier at the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, and former South African Ambassador to the Russian Federation, wrote in emailed discussion that important though is the fact that the Soviet Union never tried to colonize Africa. Soviet inﬂuence in Africa disappeared almost like a mirage with the collapse of the Soviet system in 1991. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

And today, Russian inﬂuence in Africa, despite efforts towards resuscitation, remains marginal.

economic meltdown of the 90’s in the country. Russia, as it seeks to restore and strengthen its position, has very limited human resources specially While, given its global status, it trained to implement policies in ought to be active in Africa as Africa,” he said. Western Europe, the European Union, America and China are, “Nevertheless, diving into it is all but absent, playing a muddy waters could be very negligible role, according to the risky and dangerous for Russia. views of the retired diplomat. On the other hand, Russian authorities are studying what the In a similar argument, Dr Ojijo Chinese and other foreign playAl Pascal, Ugandan lawyer and ers are doing very closely bebusiness consultant based in fore even thinking about going Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in East into the first five or ten preAfrica, suggested that “Russia ferred destinations within the needs to have its own mega or next five years in Africa. Watch corporate projects. And it out my words!” concluded Esshould have them in strategic senowo. economic areas.” During the past decade, at Ojijo underlined the fact that least, from the time of African Russia, in essence, could use Union Commission Chairperits history of electrifying the So- son Jean Ping to Nkosazana viet rural areas to help Africa. It Clarice Dlamini-Zuma and now could promote the establish- Moussa Faki Mahamat, all have ment of manufacturing hubs passionately raised the issue of and mega projects, promote its Russia’s active involvement in technologies in mutually bene- economic sectors especially ficial spheres while cooperating energy, infrastructure, agriculwith individual countries in ture and industry in Africa. Still Africa. Russia plays very little role in Africa’s infrastructure, agriculIn his assessment, Rex Es- ture and industry. senowo, Member of the Board of Trustees of Nigerians in Di- Last year, Business Research aspora Europe and Senior Exec- and Consultancy firm published utive of Asian Africa Trade, a its survey conducted between Moscow based business lobby- January 2016 and June 2018. ing NGO, argued that African The firm recommended that all leaders also have to treat Rus- existing Memorandum of Unsia with some kind of objective derstanding (MoU) and Bilatunderstanding. “Apart from eral Agreements that Russia sanctions, Russia is struggling has, so far, signed with African with the challenges after the countries and together with varbreakdown of Soviet Union and ious economic agreements

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reached by the joint Business Councils during the past few years could provide a solid framework for raising vigorously economic inﬂuence to an appreciable level in Africa.

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Africa Brinks at Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investment The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Afreximbank has set the stage for the new journey the Russian Federation has decided to embark upon with Africa. Russia joins the path well-trodden by China and India to forge a new partnership with Africa, a relationship built on trust and a felt need for mutual prosperity. But, Africa and Russia have to deepen further their friendship on the basis of business and more active interactions to bring economic prosperity to both Africa and Russia.

Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, presented the 2019 African Trade Report, an analytical survey of African trade, the June Economic Conference held in Moscow, capital of Russia. It attracted more than 1,500 participants, many of them from Africa. More than 100 speakers, including ministers, central bank governors, subject matter experts, business leaders, representatives of international trade organisations, export credit GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

agencies, African and global trade development experts, and academics, spoke during the three days of the meetings, which opened on 20 June. The Annual Meetings focused on the theme “Harnessing Emerging Partnerships in an Era of Rising Protectionism.”

Oramah said: “It is vital that Africa grasps the economic growth opportunities ﬂowing from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, growing domestic demand and population and our ever-closer investment and trading links with emerging partners in the South. We must exert concerted action to ensure that we develop, industrialize and diversify our industries and support infrastructure to foster regional integration and participate fully in regional and global value chains.”

Of great importance in the changing world, African political and corporate business leaders are consistently looking for emerging partners who are eager to assist the economic development through sectoral and infrastructure investments across the continent and embrace stronger trading links with Africa, according to Oramah.

Oramah, however, believes that Russia represents one of such partners that Africa looks up to. It could be a source of investment that Africa needs to develop its infrastructure, and transfer technology to mining

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and processing of raw materials. Russia could be a source of non-debt creating investments that Africa needs in key areas, such as rail, aviation, healthcare and petrochemicals.

He questioned why there is no reason 2-way trade that at 2018 levels, about US$22 billion, far below potential cannot be increased rapidly. Afreximbank predicts Russia-Africa bilateral trade ﬂows can easily exceed US$40 billion by 2023.

There are many indicators that support the forecast. Since the past three years when Russia began to re-engage actively with Africa, trade values have risen rapidly, with two-way trade rising by about 70 percent between 2017 and 2018. Russia is also making concerted efforts to promote trade and investment relations.

in Angola and Nigeria under Joint Ventures between Russian and Angolan entities.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding Afreximbank entered into with Russia Railways, bringing active participation of Russia in rebuilding Africa’s rail infrastructure just as Russian aviation companies are exploring new markets across Africa. The Strategy for Export Trading Companies launched during the conference as one of the key focal points for the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Russia and Africa.

“The African continent currently has enormous potential as a sales market. Many African countries are enacting economic reforms, demand is growing for high-quality and competitive products. Russian businesses are interested in this niche, and our goods are already competitive in terms of price and quality. We plan to increase export volumes in the next few years,” said Andrey Slepnev, Chief Executive Oﬃcer of the Russian Export Center (REC).

In December 2017, Russia Export Centre joined the shareholding of Afreximbank providing an institutional platform for promoting Africa-Russia trade. That partnership has seen Afreximbank and Russia Export Centre jointly supporting the import of critical fertilizer needs by Zambia and Zim- For many political leaders, exbabwe. perts and business investors Africa is the last frontier. It is Afreximbank and Russia Export the last frontier because it has Centre are collaborating in im- huge natural resources still unplementing mining projects tapped, all kinds of emerging with added processing capaci- business opportunities and ties in Sierra Leone and Zim- constantly growing consumer babwe as well as in facilitating market due to the increasing discussions for the establish- population. It has currently bement of a petrochemical plant come a new business ﬁeld for

global players. In his contribution, South African based Senior Expert on Foreign Policy, Dr Kelvin Dewey Stubborn, has urged Russian investors and industry leaders to make a headway by playing consistently key roles in the transformation of Africa’s trade and industrial landscape with the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to him, the opportunities for investors and traders in the AfCFTA market are enormous. For example, SADC offers opportunities for value addition to promoting industrialisation through the development of regional value chains. The opportunities for trade in intermediate and ﬁnal goods within the AfCFTA market.

“The large market offers enhanced opportunities for joint ventures with foreign companies looking for reliable partners in Africa. This is just a sample of opportunities. Investors and traders are encouraged to move in as soon as the market becomes operational to capitalize on ﬁrst mover advantages,” he suggested.

“Indeed, through frequent interactions, Russia has to discover speciﬁc expectations, new directions and how to deal with Africa. The games there have considerablly changed, many global players have adopted investment strategies more appealing and acceptable for Africa. That has to focus on development-oriented projects and how to seek more cooper-

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ation on employment creation across sectors. That’s the best way to sustain peace and eradicate conﬂicts in Africa,” the expert elaborated in his report.

Russia continues to strengthen its relationship with Africa due to multiple factors such as untapped abundant natural resources, improvement of the business climate, the rise of the middle-level income class and economic growth, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev noted in his speech at conference.

He further pointed to Africa’s growing appeal to and demand for high-tech, telecom investors and other products that could make swift business connection with Russia. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

“All these things have already made Africa attractive for investments, and not merely in producing industries but, which is of particular importance, in high technologies and telecommunications,” Medvedev said. According to certain estimates, about a half of the resource potential of the planet is in Africa, he argued “we therefore need to more eﬃciently use these resources and at the same time promote cooperation in this sphere, just like cooperation in other spheres.”

nomic and investment exchanges, as well as cooperation in banking, and for encouraging business communities to implement mutually beneﬁcial projects in African countries.

These include the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant and the establishment of the Russian Industrial Zone in Egypt, as well as the projects that are being implemented in Africa by such leading Russian businesses as Rosneft, Lukoil, Rosgeo, Besides those factors, there is Gazprom, Alrosa, Vi Holding, high desire for mutual-coopera- GPB Global Resources and tion. “It is also important to Renova. have a sincere internal desire, and such a sincere desire is “We can report first achievepresent from the side of the ments in this sphere. Mutual Russian Federation and from trade is growing – it exceeded the side of African states. We US$20 billion last year – and see this at different levels, in- becoming more diversified. cluding the top levels of coop- Large projects are being impleeration,” Medvedev said. mented in Africa with direct financial support from Russia,” Opening the conference, which he assertively said, and added: attracted more than 1,500 dele- “I am confident that cooperagates, Foreign Minister Sergey tion with Afreximbank, which Lavrov reminded conference the Russian Export Centre participants that while relying (REC) has joined as a shareon the long-time accumulated holder, will help promote longexperience of constructive part- term trade and economic nership, Russia and Africa are relations between Russian confidently moving along the businesses and their African road of comprehensively ex- partners.” panding Russian-African ties. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, According to the Foreign Minis- Commissioner for Trade and Inter, the long years of solid dustry of the African Union friendship, which has been cre- Commission, delivered a goodated, gives a fresh impetus to will message on behalf of the cooperation in many spheres Chairman of the Commission. and provides necessary condi- Later in an interview, Muchanga tions for building up trade, eco- explained that Africa needs

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more Russian foreign direct investments to enhance the current Russia-African economic ties and further talked about creating a new Africa and “winwin cooperation” with foreign partners. People should forget the Africa that thrives on aid, people should see an Africa that has the capacity to create its own future and be treated as equal partners.

Muchanga further emphasized that it is equally important for African countries to maintain peace and stability as a prerequisite for strengthening privatesector development and boosting intra-African trade. “We from the African Union believe that trade and integration, transfer of technology to agriculture and to industry are best

solutions to endless conﬂicts and emerging challenges in Africa, that’s why we ask potential investors to prioritize these sectors,” he said.

“We are not coming with the begging bowl. Africans have to create a big market and by creating that big market there’s going to be greater manufacturing in Africa and exportation of commodities. There is going to be greater agro-processing and Africa is going to transform itself from a net importer of food to a net exporter of food. We are going to China, Russia and other foreign players with a clear agenda, these are investment in infrastructure, industry and steady development of the economy. It’s a cultural mindset that people think this is impos-

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sible,” argued Muchanga. According to him, Nelson Mandela said “It seems impossible until it’s done.”

Spearheaded by Afreximbank, the Russia-Africa Economic Conference was the ﬁrst of such kind to discuss effective ways of strengthening RussianAfrican relations with a focus on new mechanisms for exploring trade and business opportunities, and economic co operation in Africa. Afreximbank founded in 1993 in Abuja, Nigeria, with an authorized capital of US$5 billion. The main objectives of the bank are the development of trade between African countries and abroad. The banks’ headquarters is located in Cairo, Egypt. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

The Truth About Russia And Africa: Interview with Professor Vladimir Shubin Most of the political leaders are now reacting to post-Soviet politics and emerging economic possibilities in Russia

Professor Vladimir Shubin, the Deputy Director of the Institute for African Studies [IAS], Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, has raised some serious issues in Russian-African relations that need careful consideration. In the ﬁrst place, inside Africa, there is clear evidence that most of the political leaders are now reacting to post-Soviet politics and emerging economic possibilities in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin authorities have also moved progressively with a new phase in consolidating political ties at the state levels with Africa. In order to maintain this relationship, African countries have to pay high attention to and take signiﬁcant steps in promoting their achievements and highlighting their most development needs.

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Professor Shubin’s interview on political relations between Russia and Africa as well as economic cooperation will attract more and more practically academic discussions. Such scholarly contributions, in essence, help deepen understanding of the problems that mitigate in building solid relationship or partnership with Russia. In the past, the emphasis was strongly put on political ideology, but now, that has largely changed and it’s obvious that increased economic cooperation is the main determining factor especially in the ﬁelds of mining, transportation, infrastructure construction, industry, agriculture, and tourism. These have to be placed [step by step] on a new basis of mutual interests. What is abundantly clear is how to stimulate African governments into ex-

ploring investment opportunities in Russia and Russian investors into Africa within some framework of mutual-cooperation. It is also worthy to say that Russia has played roles in Africa and Africans have to work towards good governance, adopt good development strategies and seek an improved welfare for the population. Equally interesting is the Asian States are moving faster than Africa and consequently the development gap is widening.

As correctly pointed out by Professor Vladimir Shubin in wideranging interview discussion with Kester Kenn Klomegah, certain developments, and approaches, however, provide a basis for criticisms and for pessimistic views as to what extent, these ideas can be realised for Africa. The world continues watching developments.

In the cold war era, Africa was an ideological playing ﬁeld for the United States and the thenSoviet Union, but all these have changed after the Soviet collapse. What are your comments relating to the relationship between Russia and Africa?

Indeed, the style of work and its intensity are quite different in the case of the ﬁrst president Boris Yeltsin and his successor Vladimir Putin. I would not attribute the reasons for the marked changes just to personalities. One should not look at Russia today as something

“monolithic” tightly directed from the Kremlin, as the USSR used to be at some stage. There are different political forces competing for the power in the country or, at least, for the inﬂuence over it. These forces represent interests of various diverse political and social groups that also need to be carefully analysed within a particular context.

This is true for the foreign policy as well, even if according to “Yeltsin’s Constitution” of 1993, the President determines the main foreign policy directions. In respect to Africa, there are signiﬁcant forces in Russia, which stand for the further development of bilateral relations and a stronger economic cooperation. They include not only traditional friends of Africa on the left side of the political spectrum, but take Russian industrialists who are interested in exporting their manufactured goods to African countries or in exploring its mineral resources.

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sia’s involvement in African affairs. Putin said: “As to Russia, traditionally with the African continent, we’ve got very good relations. We subtly feel all the problems of the African continent…I must say Russia’s contribution is very noticeable in dealing with the problems of Africa.”

Among other things related to the writing off part of the debts of African countries, Russia makes very great contributions: we take part in humanitarian programmes and, in particular, in the health programmes for ﬁghting AIDS. We grant African countries a considerable amount of scholarships for studying in higher educational institutions in Russia and plan to carry on this programme in the future. Russia’s assistance to African countries is multipronged and we are convinced that this activity ultimately meets the national interests of the Russian Federation.

What would you like to suggest Does Kremlin have an agenda if you were to advice Kremlin adfor Africa? How would you de- ministration’s policy approach fend the aﬃrmative position, cit- towards African countries? And, ing examples? your opinions about the future of Russian-African relations? That is quite interesting. I have never heard about a special Africa has great potential for Moscow’s “Agenda for Africa” our bilateral relationships. Truly from Kremlin, but one should and ﬁrstly, in the political proceed from the “Concept of sphere, there are hardly any the Foreign Policy of the Russ- sharp controversies between ian Federation” approved by Russia and African countries. Putin soon after his election to Agreeably, the relations in other the post. Africa occupies a de- spheres, especially in ecocent, albeit modest place. Putin nomic cooperation, are lagging several times spoke about Rus- behind. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

Thus, the bilateral trade is many times less than that of China, India and many foreign countries with Africa.

I am not sure that “Kremlin administrators” often ask for advice from the academic community. But some steps are evidently overdue, such as Putin’s working visit to Africa, south of the Sahara. Russian banks are making initial steps in operating in Africa, while the lack of credit facilities has been the major obstacle to the successful development of economic ties. However, Russia needs genuine and objective information about modern Africa, and here both state and private mass media linger a lot. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

Has Russia identiﬁed its role in any of African regional organisation’s programme aimed towards the development goals of Africa?

tray Moscow as the backyard of Europe. On the other hand, Moscow’s capacity to carry out practical steps in cooperation with African countries is limited by its own internal economic One should always remember problems that Moscow feels the problems of the African continent, Nevertheless, we can mention perhaps better than some other Russia’s continuous active in“developed countries” – both volvement practically in all UN because of its history of coop- peace-keeping missions in eration with African countries Africa, Russia’s significant conand because it often faces sim- tributions to the international ilar development problems. fund on combating HIV/AIDS, However, with these trends, I Tuberculosis, Malaria and other am not sure that African diplo- diseases as Russia’s indication macy pays enough attention to of interest in Africa, but we also Russia. Moreover, I think that a want African leaders to show, considerably good part of it is with clarity, their interests in under the influence of Western Russia. It should not be just propaganda, does it best to por- one-way traffic.

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In your critical assessment, what African leaders be seen doing if really they want to get out of their multiple problems and practically get integrated into the global community?

It is not for a Russian academic to give an advice to African governments. However, some things look obvious. Africa can play an important and fair role in the “globalising world” only if the continent really “globalise” itself, ﬁrst by effectively strengthening its continental and regional cooperation to be able to speak in one voice. All true friends of Africa welcomed the creation of the African Union, but it remains to be seen how practically effective this organisation will be.

Unfortunately, some of the recent events and developments there and the African Union’s political approach do not allow us to be too optimistic. There is a lot of pessimism about how far the African Union idea can go and what it can achieve for the continent. This depends largely on the political attitudes of the people themselves. The funniest thing is that whenever there are problems in Africa, the leaders ﬂy to Europe in search of assistance.

of consistency in the approach to the most crucial international issues. Africans have to acknowledge the fact that the world has progressively changed and they must be seen changing with a similar positive pace. It’s about time Africans have to take development issues seriously and work progressively towards establishing good governance and drastically seek improvement in the welfare for its large impoverished population.

the African diplomatic corps” in Moscow. Deﬁnitely, it is a bitter joke, but it reﬂects the reality. While some of the embassies are actively promoting their countries and are winning friends for Africa, others are hardly visible, even for African scholars here in Moscow.

Relations are supposed to be a two-way road (street). Do you think some African political leaders are also not up to expectations in their relations with Russia? What should they be seen doing in order to raise friendly ties with Russia?

I cannot say that African leaders do their best in developing bilateral relations. Truly and passionately, they come to Russia more often than ten years ago, but a lot still has to be done. Perhaps, one of the reasons why some African leaders “written off” Russia is the lack of information about Russia or rather plenty of distorted information they have received from the Western media coverage of Russia. Moreover, some of the foreign journalists writing from Do the African politicians re- here for African media cause alised that they have or must damage to the bilateral relahelp Africa to develop? For ex- tions. ample, even after the establishment of the African Union, there Now and then, speaking to were appeals for outside forces African diplomats in Moscow, I to solve intra-African conﬂicts. often joke: “Some of you are acEven more disturbing is a lack credited not to Russia, but to

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Assessing Russia's relations with Africa Here a Moscow-based public policy advisor specializing in Russia, the Eurasian Union and Africa explains some of the aspects of current Russia-African relations, problems and challenges, as well as its future perspectives.

While over the past two decades, Russia's efforts to regain its Soviet-era influence in Africa have achieved little success, times have changed significantly, according to Nataliya Zaiser, a public policy advisor covering Russia, the Eurasian Union and Africa at Squire Patton Boggs Moscow office.

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Since March 2016, Zaiser has been the Head of Africa Business Initiative [ABI], created with the support of Russian businesses as a platform for humanitarian, economic and legal expertise aimed at strengthening relations between Russia and Africa.

The main goal of this organization is to unite efforts in promoting and supporting the interests of Russian businesses within the framework of broader international cooperation on the territory of the African continent.

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As one of the participants at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum [SPIEF], held in June, what were some of the significant questions raised during the roundtable discussions on Russia and Africa? The roundtable was very interesting. Both sides [Russian and African] demonstrated a strong desire for cooperation. We talked about some specifics: about the main economic sectors that various African countries are interested in most; about business diversification away from a focus on mining and oil and gas towards infrastructure projects, telecommunications and biotechnologies.

We spoke about the need to encourage the participation of small and medium-size businesses in Africa; about bilateral cooperation; about the importance of the legal aspects of all

Times have changed significantly: new economic and political environment, new challenges, new competitive conditions, new bases for coThe panelists also touched on operation. People are different, enhancing cooperation with minds are different, technoloAfrica in the global fight against gies are different. drugs and epidemiological diseases, and combating terror- In all that, we have to find, abism. We listened to the solutely, different approaches companies that are active and and strategies to building busisuccessful on the continent; ness relationships. they shared some of their experiences, particularly good prac- What remains the same is a tice in building business will, a very loyal mutual attitude between Russia and African relationships. countries and a strong desire to Why have Russia's efforts to re- push forward these mutual efgain its economic influence forts. achieved little success, why is soft power softer than in Soviet In your expert view, looking at Russia's economic power, its days? global status and its staunch We shouldn’t say whether membership of the BRICS bloc, power is "softer" or "harder" how would you assess its curthan in the days of the Soviet rent investment and business Union. It's just different. engagement with Africa?

these and about improving the system of legal regulation of projects, from customs and tax matters to export licenses.

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Many organizations are trying to solve local problems and ﬁnd ways for business cooperation with the African continent. The issue of investment looms, perhaps, particularly largely. I think that in cooperating with African states, organizations can be guided by an approach of shared responsibility, including the ﬁnancial aspects.

Russia is clearly showing that open partnership with and support of Africa remains a priority. In the current conditions, it will seek ways of co-ﬁnancing, coinvestment and co-partnership. There may also be opportunities too for international partnerships, whether BRICS or any other groupings, formal or otherwise, on African projects.

Some policy experts have attributed Russia's economic policy setbacks to the lack of a system of projects and business ﬁnancing. For instance, China has set up the China Africa Development Fund as one major source of support and is implementing its projects in Africa. What are your views about this?

Russia has developed a number of business councils for cooperation both with individual African countries as well as with its own regions and neighbors. For Africa in particular, the Africa Business Initiative offers the chance of a consolidated approach, and an independent organization that can work with the business community in Russia and at the same time combine the inter-

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ests of the diplomatic commu- with key major African organinity, the state, academic views zations, such as the African Deand so forth. velopment Bank, the African Union, the NEPAD [New PartAt this stage, when Russia is nership for Africa’s Developfeverishly struggling to raise its ment], etc. That will economic profile through dia- significantly extend the boundlogues and consultations at the aries for Russian-African busistate level, do you suggest that ness opportunities. Russia's financial institutions, especially the banks, get in- We’ve been talking about ecovolved in financing corporate nomic diplomacy between Rusprojects on the continent? sia and Africa. And it’s also important to look at the relaInvestors and lenders today un- tions as a two-way street. Could derstand the potential benefits you please explain the possible of investing in emerging mar- reasons why African business is kets like African countries. extremely low or completely abThey also understand the criti- sent, compared to Asian councal importance of addressing tries, in the Russian Federation? the political and economic risks that may accompany an invest- This is a good question that I ment in such markets. This is want to address to you as a repthe work which needs to be car- resentative of the African diasried out. MIGA (Multilateral In- pora. Of course, this is a vestment Guarantee Agency) is bilateral cooperation. Russia is one of the biggest international open. Africa has much to offer organizations, for example, that Russia, which is a large country helps investors and lenders to and has excellent prospects in deal with such risks by insuring the regions, many of which are eligible projects against losses. developing very rapidly and are ready to accept new partnerIn Russia, there’s EXIAR (the ships, and discuss forms of coRussian Agency for Export operation. Credit and Investment Insurance) which was established in Moreover, the Russian regions late 2011 as Russia’s first ever are facing similar problems to export credit agency. I’m sure it several African countries: the has big potential and expect development of the agricultural that they will look closely at sector, technological investAfrican projects to support ment and progress that will Russian business and guaran- support a rise in the standard tee the insurance and safety of of living of the population. their investments. There’s a good case for creating a specific program (a In any case, for a start, it’s im- roadmap if you will) for cooperportant that Russia becomes a ation between African counmember or starts cooperation tries and the Russian regions.

As an expert with a reputable U.S. law ﬁrm, what would you say about the prospects of the Eurasian Economic Community (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan)? Explain further what African countries can make out of this economic bloc.

There’s often a compelling case for neighboring countries to get together and engage in some kind of union because it can facilitate and stimulate trade relations, reducing barriers without overloading them with tax and customs issues, bureaucratic procedures and other things that may mitigate mutual economic progress. I’m sure Africa will take an active part in working with the Eurasian Union as with other international or supra-national organizations and alliances because this kind of cooperation opens the gates to wider initiatives.

Of course, as a global firm our trade practice in particular is a leading advisor on international economic and commercial initiatives – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are two obvious ones that spring to mind. Squire Patton Boggs works globally, with a powerful geographic reach of 46 offices in 21 countries. We advise clients on a wide range of legal and public policy matters. As for Africa, by the way, we have a dedicated Africa Practice inside the firm which in-

volves numerous specialist teams and industry groups and individual lawyers and public policy advisors who actively work with clients across the continent. With an understanding of key legal, economic and political issues that surround doing business in Africa, we’ve established ourselves as a premier ﬁrm for Africa-based transactions offering in-depth market knowledge, extensive experience and unique transactions and public policy combination that helps companies to achieve their African business strategies.

he Africa Business Initiative was launched and initiated primarily by businesses in Russia. The concept behind this is to develop a focal point for the promotion of business interests which would consolidate the efforts of existing structures: diplomats, scientists, academics, consultants and so on.

The key participation of Russia’s Institute for African Studies, as a serious platform for research, analysis and database, means that we can add signiﬁcant insight to the actual experience of corporations that are successfully working on the Finally, tell us more about the ground. newly created Africa Business Initiative, why it has become The main goal is to create a necessary at this time, its pri- pool of economic expertise mary roles or tasks and its over- aimed at revitalizing the "chemall future plans. istry" in African-Russian busiGEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

ness relationships. It has been widely acknowledged many times that Africa is on the path towards economic prosperity. The economies of many African states are becoming more balanced and there have been lot of institutional transformations.

of a common position on a whole range of issues; to establish joint strategic initiatives and to expand its presence in the investment ﬁeld. The task is not to duplicate or simulate the activity of state bodies.

The participation of and partnership with the Institute for African Studies is very important. Historically, the institute has been and still remains the alma mater for many Africans. It has the most powerful research base in Russia and a deep knowledge about developments on the continent.

We need to, fundamentally, accelerate the approach, backed by a program of long-term trade, geo-economic relations and strategy that would keep pace with the ambitions of individual states. What the African continent needs now is the broad development of infrastructure, agriculture, con- Education and increasing sumer goods, health care and awareness among Russian information technology. businesses is key. To understand the features of successThe Africa Business Initiative ful business in Africa, people can help outline an approach should be well-versed in the sofor Russian companies to cial and political organization come to the African market as of all African countries, espea whole, as reliable business cially in their internal relationpartners. Through this frame- ships, geographical peculi work, it will be able to consoli- arities, and culture, in legisladate the interests of companies tion, public administration, and in different sectors; to address so on. and promote the development

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The role of the institute, as a partner to Africa Business Initiative, is to provide maximum assistance. Good knowledge of the legal ﬁeld, regulation, competent interaction with decision-makers and government structures of African states – all these constitute the key to a mutually beneﬁcial and balanced cooperation. The international experience and global presence of Squire Patton Boggs, which is also one of the members of the Africa Business Initiative, allows us to assist businesses in broader international cooperation, involving foreign colleagues and contacts that are interested in doing business in Africa.

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Russia–Africa: Partnership for Development

On May 30, under the theme “Russia–Africa: Partnership for Development,” the Russian Chamber of Commerce of Russian Federation and the National Guild of Producers and Importers held a one-day minibusiness forum that provided a unique opportunity for open and comprehensive discussions on a wide range of critical business issues between Russia and Africa.

In a brief media release, it noted the importance for African countries as strategic partners and its reliable business institutions in the provision of solutions to current challenges facing economic cooperation between two parties. It further noted that the forum was a step towards preparation of documents with fact-based research from business executives who can inject new thinking and approaches in shaping new policy directions and their implementation. Besides, the organizers further described the driving factor as

“Development of economic cooperation of the Russian Federation with African countries as a response to the strengthening of global challenges of our time.” The programme included three plenary sessions on the following distinctive directions: roundtable (i) «Cooperation Russia-Africa in agriculture», (ii) «Development of industry production, energy sector and transport in African countries – perspective of cooperation with Russia» and (iii) «Cooperation Russia-Africa in medicine».

All the plenary sessions reviewed the state and prospects for the economic sectors for development, attempted at identifying the most promising areas of cooperation and offered recommendations for the development of mutual ties in the ﬁelds between Russia and African countries. The Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, Ekaterina Popova, at the plenary session, discussed at GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

length the global challenges and the development of economic cooperation of the Russian Federation with Africa. She pointed to the importance and peculiarities of the expansion of the Russia-African economic partnership are due to a number of factors. Russia’s total exports to Africa over the past decade have amounted to about US$100 billion.

“By the way, this is the only continent where, in recent years, there has been a signiﬁcant increase in Russian exports. At the same time, there are signiﬁcant barriers to our business relations, without which it is impossible to talk about the breakthrough pace of development of Russia-African cooperation,” Popova told the gathering in her introductory remarks.

If the task of the government is to create good conditions for doing business on the African continent, then entrepreneurs have their own goal – to realize this potential, according to the Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the Russian Federation, Georgy Petrov.

He further informed the participants that large Russian companies such as Gazprom, Rosatom, Lukoil and others have already occupied their niches in the African market. However, small and mediumsized businesses have to do a lot for the realization of their possibilities and goals in Africa. MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

In 2018, the Federal Chamber held presentations on the economic, industrial and investment potential of Ethiopia and Mauritius. Russian CCI President Sergei Katyrin met with ambassadors from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, South Sudan and a number of other African countries. Contacts with Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the African continent are actively developing.

way,” Dianov argued.

Ekaterina Shulekina, the Program Director at the Chamber of Commerce, explained in an interview that Russia already renders enormous support for and still searching to identify mutual investment sectors in Africa, and that the forum will facilitate meaningful networking connections on a largescale, encourage ideas that could change the economic In 2019, the largest Association profile in Africa. of Russian Entrepreneurs co-organized meetings of the Presi- She added that many Russian dents of Zimbabwe and Angola companies are increasingly inwith business representatives terested in advancing business during their official working vis- cooperation, thus the preparaits to Moscow. Business mis- tory business gathering could sions were organized to South help build business confidence, Africa and Nigeria. The work contribute to the sound develcontinues both at the interstate opment of these relations and level and on the B2B format. allow us to outline new forms of fruitful cooperation during Director of the Department of the Russia-Africa Summit to be Asia, Africa and Latin America held October in Sochi. of the Ministry of Economic Development, Alexander Dianov, The participants included reprenoted that the role of the sentatives from the Ministry of African continent in the world Foreign Affairs of Russian Fedeconomy is constantly grow- eration, Ministry of Industry and ing. The pace of development Trade, Ministry of Economic Deof African countries is ahead of velopment and Ministry of Agrithe main trends, and almost culture. There were also leading seventy percent of their popula- experts in the field of trade and tion is under the age of thirty. economic relations with African countries, the heads of “In these circumstances, Rus- working Russian groups in sia’s return to Africa plays a Africa, as well as ambassadors special role. But if in Soviet and entrepreneurs from African times, the development of our countries: Ethiopia, Rwanda, relations with the countries of Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, the continent was dictated Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Maumainly by political considera- ritius and South Africa. tions, now economic interests come to the fore in a different

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Russia, Africa and the Energy Business

Energy experts have noted that Africa is highly interested in Russian investments and technologies, cooperation in energy between Russia and Africa is developing but African leaders still have look at various policies to facilitate the implementation of energy projects in Africa.

“We have seen cooperation developing with real momentum in the recent years between the Russia and African countries. I would also like to note the cooperation with African ExportImport Bank. Russian Export Center recently joined the shareholders of Afreximbank, which will also allow joint efforts to increase the export of Russian products to Africa and establish joint energy projects. We believe that in future this cooperation will develop as well,” said Georgy Kalamanov,

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

“Russian energy companies view the African market as a promising area for their projects. However, in the era of technological revolution, in Russia as well, and in the situation of sanctions, joint projects on the African continent could be a major solution for our energy companies,” according to Nataliya Zaiser, Chair of the Board, Africa Business Initiative (ABI). Zaiser, who is also a Public Policy Advisor covering Russia, the Eurasian Union and Africa at Squire Patton Boggs Moscow’s oﬃce, said that Russia is actively developing new technologies in the energy sector, making energy safer, cleaner, and more accessible to all of humankind. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

The Africa Business Initiative (ABI), created with the support of Russian businesses, is a platform for strengthening relations between Russia and Africa. The main goal of this organization is to unite efforts in promoting and supporting the interests of Russian businesses within the framework of broader economic cooperation in Africa.

developed. We have vast resources, and they need to be used. We are very interested in having investors from Russia come to us. We would be happy to use Russian technologies and investments to advance in oil production,” Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Minister of Petroleum of the Republic of South Sudan.

Some experts highlighted the The Russian Foreign Ministry insufficient technical equippays considerable attention to ment of African refineries. political and diplomatic support for Russian-African energy co- “The main plants that currently operation, pointed out Andrey operate in Nigeria, Angola and Kemarsky, Director of the De- other countries, they have low partment of Africa, Foreign Af- depth of oil refining without fairs Ministry of the Russian secondary process. The petroFederation. chemical industry is not actually represented on the “Africa’s dynamic development industrial scale of polyethylene and significant annual popula- and propylene production,” artion growth on the continent gued Mikhail Margelov, Vice lead to a steady increase in en- President of Transneft. ergy demand. It should be considered that nearly half the Margelov is a former Special population in Africa lives with- Representative of the Russian out electricity,” Kemarsky President to Africa and a foradded. mer Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Russian Creating joint work groups on Federation Council. He sugenergy cooperation could be gested further that the task of useful. “As an effective interac- combining refineries or petrotion mechanism, we see the rel- chemical plants in the areas of evant Russian ministries and localization of oil production departments creating joint would reduce the volume of the work groups on cooperation in current capital investment and energy within the existing inter- improve the economic performgovernmental commissions. ance of such projects. Such work groups exist, for example, with South Africa and Determining mutually beneficial Angola,” Andrey Kemarsky. areas of cooperation should “Africa is a large continent with also be one major step, accordthe population of 1.2 billion; it is ing to Margelov, and finally a huge market that needs to be added “applying more ad-

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vanced equipment allows to reduce losses, to use less energyintensive furnaces and drives. Using renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, as well as applying eﬃcient energy recovery methods can be helpful in this area.” Nearly all the experts, at the Roundtable Discussions on Energy, have agreed that expanding and diversifying RussianAfrican cooperation necessary to drive large Russian operators into the implementation of regional projects within the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

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Experts Campaign to Enlist Russia’s Commitment to Africa

Roscongress Foundation and Integration Expertise LLC [Intex] have signed an agreement on cooperation between their organizations to work collaboratively on the “Russia-Africa Shared Vision 2030” in preparation for the forthcoming RussiaAfrica Summit. The agreement directed towards collecting and collating expert views for the project “Russia-Africa Shared Vision 2030” that could be incorporated into the ﬁnal Summit Declaration.

A group of Russian experts plan to present a comprehensive document titled “RussiaAfrica: Shared Vision 2030” at the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled on 23–24 October in Sochi, southern Russian city. Sochi, located in southern Russia, has an excellent heritage. In both winter and summer, the city hosts world-

class global international events, such as the Olympics, the World Festival of Youth and Students, and many others. Sochi has one of the largest congress complexes in the country.

The key issue emerging from many policy experts is a fresh call on Russian Government to seriously review and change some of its policy approach currently implemented in Africa. It’s necessary to actively use combined forms of activities, an opportunity to look at the problems and the perspectives of entire Russian-African partnership and cooperation in different ﬁelds from the viewpoints of both Russian and African politicians, business executives, academic researchers, diplomats and social activists. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

The Russia-Africa Summit will be the first platform to bring African leaders and business executive directors to interact and discuss economic cooperation of mutual interest with Russian counterparts, nearly 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even as the historical event draws nearer and nearer with preparations underway, Russian officials at the Kremlin and Ministries, particularly Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Economic Development and Industry, are still lip-tight over what African leaders have to expect from the first Summit.

On the other hand, competition is rife on the continent, with many foreign countries interested in Africa. Resultantly, African leaders have been making rational and comparative choices that could enormously support their long-term Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].

Roscongress Foundation along with the Integration Expertise information-analytical company said in a recent news brief that collaborative writing team of Russian and African experts have been working on a document that would outline the main areas for interaction between Russia and African countries.

An expert analysis, including macroeconomic reviews, and an analysis of political systems and inter-country development

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strategies would be used to reach conclusions about opportunities for cooperation, make recommendations, and deﬁne speciﬁc goals for the development of Russian-African relations in the period until 2030. Anton Kobyakov, an Adviser to the Russian President, noted “Russia has traditionally prioritized developing relations with African countries. Trade and economic relations as well as investment projects with the countries of the African continent offer enormous potential. Major Russian businesses view Africa as a promising place for investment.”

tance, both ﬁnancial and non-ﬁnancial, for Russian exporters looking for widening their business abroad.

“We are seriously looking at multifaceted interaction with Africa. Russia has a long historical connection with the continent since the time African states started gaining their independence. However, that has lost its momentum in early 90s. It is our major goal now to rebuild the trust and the connections with the African countries to make the strong foundation for further business cooperation,” the General Director of the REC, Andrei Slepnev, wrote in Andrei Kemarsky, Director of an emailed interview. the Department of Africa of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Af- “We’re witnessing a clear growfairs, said the work on the se- ing interest from the both sides ries of expert reports united by to establish the new level of rethe common theme “Russia- lationships which means it is a Africa Shared Vision 2030” perfect timing to boost the ecowould make a signiﬁcant con- nomic agenda we have, create tribution to intensifying Russ- a platform to vocalize these ian-African cooperation and ideas and draw a strong would further promote Russia’s roadmap for the future,” interests on the African conti- stressed Slepnev. nent. “Given the growing interest in “This project seems to be par- Africa, Russian organizations, ticularly relevant given the fact both private and public, need a that the Russia-Africa Summit high-quality guide that will help is scheduled to be held in Rus- to avoid at least some of the sia with the participation of mistakes that have already heads of all African countries,” been made and provide pointKemarsky said. ers on some of the most promising mechanisms for In December 2017, Russian Ex- collaboration,” Roscongress port Center became a share- Foundation CEO, Alexander Stuholder of Afreximbank. Russian glev, said. Export Center is a specialized state development institution, Alexandra Arkhangelskaya, a created to provide any assis- Senior Lecturer at the Moscow

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High School of Economics said that Russia and Africa needed each other – “Russia is a vast market not only for African minerals, but for various other goods and products produced by African countries.”

Currently, the signs for RussianAfrican relations are impressive – declarations of intentions have been made, already many important bilateral agreements signed – now it remains to be seen, ﬁrst of all, how these intentions and agreements would be implemented in practice with African countries, according to Arkhangelskaya.

During the signing of an agreement between the Integration Expertise and Roscongress Foundation, Yevgeny Korendyasov, a Senior Researcher at the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that intensifying Russian-African cooperation was now among the list of current priorities of the Russian government and the business community.

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US$62 million Boost for Women-Led Businesses in Africa

The African Development Bank has been granted US$61.8 million by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative for its program "Aﬃrmative Finance Action for Women in Africa". Countries targeted include Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Almost three-quarters of those companies that tracked gender diversity in their management reported proﬁt increases between 5 and 20 per cent, with the majority seeing increases between 10 and 15 per cent.

Almost 57 per cent said it was easier to attract and retain talent. More than 54 per cent said they saw improvements in creativity, innovation and openness and a similar proportion said effective gender inclusivity enhanced their company’s repWomen in leadership bring better business performance utation, while almost 37 per cent felt it enabled them to Businesses with genuine gen- more effectively gauge cusder diversity, particularly at sen- tomer sentiment. ior level, perform better, including seeing signiﬁcant The report also found that, at proﬁt increases, according to a national level, an increase in fenew report from ILO. The report male employment is positively surveyed almost 13,000 enter- associated with GDP growth. prises in 70 countries. More The survey results are based on than 57 per cent of respon- an analysis of data from 186 dents agreed that gender diver- countries for the period 1991sity initiatives improved 2017. (Modern Diplomacy) business outcomes.

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Russia Looks for Media Presence in Africa

Acknowledging undoubtedly that Africa has become a new world center for global development, Russian legislators at the State Duma (the lower chamber) have advocated for a greater media representation to facilitate collecting important information to support business and economic cooperation with Africa.

Viacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma, told an instant meeting held, with the ambassadors of African countries in Russia, to brainstorm for fresh views on the current Russia-African relations: “it is necessary to take certain steps together for the Russian media to work on the African continent.”

“You know that the Russian media provide broadcasting in various languages, they work in many countries, although it is certainly impossible to compare this presence with presence of the media of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany,” he said as the ambassadors responded with a big applause. Expressing sentiments and decisiveness about Africa, Volodin added: “We propose to move from intentions to concrete steps. Our people will better understand each other through parliamentary relations.” Some of the western and other foreign media that operate actively in Africa are Associated Press, GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

Reuters, Bloomberg, British Broadcasting Corporation, Agence France Press, United Press International, Xinhua and Al-Jazeera.

For the past few years, Russia has made some efforts returning with investment and business to Africa, but unfortunately, not all these steps have received adequate publicity. The question about the presence of Russian media in Africa and African media in the Russian Federation has been raised several times in the past by many policy experts and media organizations.

For example, Vladimir Shubin, Deputy Director of the Institute for African Studies in Moscow said that Africa has great potential for bilateral relationships with Russia and, most importantly, Russia’s contribution is very noticeable in dealing with the problems of Africa.

Perhaps, one of the reasons why some African leaders have written off Russia is the lack of information about Russia or rather plenty of distorted information they have received from the Western media coverage of Russia. In fact, Russia needs genuine and objective information about modern Africa, and here both state and private mass media linger a lot, according to Shubin.

Olga Kulkova, a research fellow at the Center for RussianAfrican Relations at the Institute for African Studies, said

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that “Africa needs broader coverage in Russian media. Leading Russian media agencies should release more topical news items and analytical quality articles about the continent. Russia has to adequately collaborate with African partners and attract Russian business to Africa. More quality information about modern Russia should be broadcast in African states.”

“Indisputably, it takes a lot of money and efforts, but the result will pay off. Russia ought to take the media into account if it wants to improve the chances for success in Africa. All the leading countries have been doing that quite efficiently for a long time,” Kulkova noted. All the leading foreign countries have been doing that quite efficiently for a long time and Russia has to take this into account if it wants to improve the chances for success in Africa, Kulkova added, citing the example of the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation where both China and Africa fixed the “China-Africa Press Exchange Centre” in Shanghai, China.

The China-Africa Press Exchange Centre aims at encouraging exchanges and visits between Chinese and African media, and China has already supported frequent exchange of correspondents from media organizations of the two sides. While many experts argue that African media seem uninterested in developing working links to Russia, Vasily Pushkov,

an independent expert on international media relations wrote in an emailed discussion that “it works both ways and the two regions are very far from each other.” They (Russia and Africa) are not as interconnected as they were during the Soviet era, he stressed. According to Pushkov “Russia might have an image problem among African political and business elites, partly due to the fact that Russia has low presence in Africa compared to the Soviet era. Most African media get their global news from the leading Western media outlets, which in turn have a nasty and longstanding habit of always portraying Russia as the world’s bogeyman.”

The Foreign Ministry published the text of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov’s speech on oﬃcial website where he highlighted the same old problems facing the development of Russia-African ties at a session on Urals-Africa economic forum in Yekaterinburg. “One must admit that the practical span of Russian companies’ business operations in Africa falls far below our export capabilities, on one hand, and the huge natural resources of the continent, on the other,” Bogdanov said assertively.

According to him, one of the major obstacles has been insuﬃcient knowledge of the economic potential, on the part of Russian entrepreneurs, needs and opportunities of the

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African region. “Poor knowledge of the African markets’ structure and the characteristics of African customers by the Russian business community remains an undeniable fact. The Africans in their turn are insuﬃciently informed on the capabilities of potential Russian partners,” Bogdanov stressed in his speech without suggesting any possible solutions.

Russian media here, which are largely not prominent in Africa, include Rossiya Sevogdnya (RIA Novosti, Voice of Russia and Russia Today), Itar-Tass News Agency and Interfax Information Service.

As far back in March 2018, the Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department, Artyom Kozhin, reassured in his media brieﬁng that the Russian Federation would prioritize media, art and culture among several other programmes in efforts aimed at consolidating cooperation with African countries.

While the Foreign Ministry has accredited foreign media from Latin America, the United States, Europe and Asian countries, none came from Africa that comprises 54 states. Over the years, the Information and Press Department of the Foreign Ministry Affairs (MFA) has rejected African media applications for accreditation, usually citing no reasons. State and private media organizations from sub-Saharan Africa have been

blocked from having represen- sary foundation for deeper and tation in the Russian Federa- holistic Russia-Africa political, tion. cultural and economic cooperation for mutual benefit of the A number of Moscow- based peoples of the two friendly inAfrican diplomats have ac- stitutions,” suggested Nicholas knowledged in separate inter- Mike Sango. views that the weak media connectivity between the two The trend may change for the parties is one of the deep better. In a foreign policy cracks or potholes in the post- speech, President Vladimir Soviet diplomacy most espe- Putin urged all his Russian amcially now when Russia is bassadors and diplomats acmaking efforts strengthening tively use new technologies to its relations with the continent. highlight Russian success stoIn separate interviews, Zim- ries, improve Russia’s image babwe’s Ambassador to Rus- and defend its interests abroad, sia, Major General (rtd) according to Russian daily Nicholas Mike Sango and many newspaper Kommersant, quotAfrican diplomats have unre- ing an official who attended the servedly advocated for media meeting. representation in and a wide range of cultural cooperation “It’s not enough to just crow between both Russia and something once… We should Africa. explain our positions again and again, using various platforms “There is a dearth of informa- and new media technologies, tion about the country. Russia- until they understand,” the offiAfrica issues are reported by cial, who spoke on condition of third parties and often not in anonymity, quoted Putin as saygood light. Is this not a moment ing. During the past few years, that Russia has coverage on Putin and the Kremlin authoriAfrica by being permanently ties have moved progressively present in the continent? Even with a new phase in consolidatthe strongest foreign policies, if ing political ties broadly at the not sold out by the media, will state levels with Africa. definitely not succeed,” said Major General (rtd) Nicholas Mike Sango. “Indeed, Africa’s media should equally find space to operate in Russia. Because of limited resources, Russia should equally make it easier for African journalists to operate on its territory. Frequent Russia-Africa forums should lay the neces-

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Create Media Platforms to Support Business

Meanwhile, Bunn Nagara, Senior Fellow, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, suggested that business cooperation follows the basic general rule of “the more the better.”

“Russian businesses face a number of challenges. First, there is little information available internationally about the opportunities and possibilities for partnerships between Russian and foreign businesses. International news still dominated by Western news agencies that have a different focus and agenda. Thus, Russia often seen only politically and negatively. Without suﬃcient information available about prospective business cooperation and partnerships, many foreign businesses will stay away,” the expert said.

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“Russia is a large country that is in both Europe and Asia. It spans both major continents, so it can do much to bring Asian and European business linkages together and build on them. Better public relations and improved information dissemination are very important. To do this, it needs to do more in spreading more and better information about its achievements, the progress so far, its future plans, and the opportunities available,” Bunn Nagara said. (Adapted from Penza News)

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Russian Culture Struggles for a New Home in Africa There are about 10 Russkiy Cabinets, [for instance in Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa] currently operating in Africa

Russkiy Mir Foundation, a nongovernment and non-proﬁt organization, has created a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the Russian language and promoting the country’s culture could possibly be one way to improve overall image abroad including Africa. Russian authorities are really struggling to ﬁnd effective ways of marketing the country’s language abroad by establishing regional language centers exactly similar to those that were closed in African, Asian and Latin American countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Mir Foundation, said in an interview that “both Asian and African countries are strong priority regions, much attention is devoted to these regions so that they can beneﬁt from some of the cultural programs and as a way of strengthening Russia’s cultural inﬂuence abroad.”

“In our country, the president and the government pay attention to the development of the Russian language. This work involves the media, as a matter of fact, and in a broad sense, the cultural and scientiﬁc institutions that are potentially useful as conduits for promoting the Professor Georgy Toloraya, the Russian language and culture Regional Director for Asia and are under serious consideraAfrica Department at Russkiy tion,” he said. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

Toloraya said: “conducive to strengthening the position of the language generally and the inﬂuence of Russian culture is the practice of holding the Year of Russian Culture in foreign countries, which with our partners, we organize on regular basis. We expect that interested African educational and cultural experts will share their valuable assessments and suggestions that will help us outline further comprehensive actions.”

In the next few years, Russia plans the opening of Russkiy Cabinets in selected African countries where they are currently unavailable and strive to activate the existing centers. There are about 10 Russkiy Cabinets, [for instance in Mo-

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rocco, Egypt and South Africa] Currently, one of the most widespread forms of Russian studcurrently operating in Africa. ies in Africa, for example, is the Modelled as Confucius Insti- creation and functioning of, tute, British Council or Alliance what is popularly referred to as, Française, Russkiy Mir primarily Russkiy Cabinet. The Russkiy promotes the teaching of the Mir Foundation supports the Russian language within Russia creation of Russkiy Cabinets and abroad – both to new learn- via the provision of a contracters of the language and to based donation to the hosting those who already know and organization. love the Russian language, and further wish to recapture or This process begins with an official request from the potential maintain its fluency. host organization or institution The means of the language about the creation of the studies include funding schol- Russkiy Cabinet. arship on its linguistic origins, creating new standards for lan- If the Foundation approves the guage instruction, producing organization’s request, the two educational materials, and parties then sign a donation sponsoring language courses, agreement that specifies, in competitions, and other educa- necessary details, the materials provided, mostly free of charge, tional programs.

by the Foundation. In turn, the host organization is obliged to use the materials for educational purposes with the aim of popularizing the Russian language and supporting intercultural dialogue.

“There is a huge cultural gap of new thinking, working with young professionals and associations to promote people-topeople diplomacy through business links, cultural exchanges, and competitions,” Ojijo told me in an emailed inBut, experts have suggested terview. that other aspects of the soft power and public diplomacy On his part, Albert Khamatshin, have been missing on the pol- a researcher from the African icy agenda and needed to be Studies Institute under the pursued with African countries. Russian Academy of Sciences, Naftali Mwaura Muigai, an ex- thinks that Africans are showpert on Social Communication ing less interest in learning the and Cultural Policy in Nairobi, language as compared to other has explained: “Russia appears foreign languages because the quite removed from cultural Russian government does little policy issues. We don’t have vi- to arouse Africans’ interest in brant Russian cultural centers the language. in many African cities hence the low uptake of the lan- “And what makes the situation guage.” worse,” he says, “is largely due to the fact many African leadLikewise, there are limited ers have turned away from Russcholarship opportunities for sia to Asian countries African youth to study in Rus- especially to China.” sia. Nowadays, China is viewed as a strong strategic partner in In his media brieﬁng, Artyom Africa given its (China’s) strong Kozhin, the deputy director of footprint in diverse areas such the Information and Press Deas commerce, culture, and partment of the Russian Fortechnology transfer, Naftali eign Ministry (MFA), said “the Muigai pointed out further in an Russian Federation is successemailed interview with. fully implementing programs of In a similar argument, Ojijo Pas- cultural and humanitarian cocal, an experienced corporate operation with various African lawyer and guest lecturer countries, which include conbased in Kampala, capital of tacts in education, science, culUganda, observed that “the ture, art, the media, and sport.” Russian government does not According to him, these efforts carry out Russian cultural are aimed not only at consolievents, there are no visible dating cooperation with the Russian cultural centers as African countries but also at recompared with the Chinese, the solving key African problems French and German cultural such as overcoming social incenters. equality and the involvement of

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young Africans in sustainable economic development.

“Education is a major priority in relations with Africa. Russian universities are open to African students. Apart from the main subjects they have programs oriented towards key areas of the region’s public and economic life,” he said further.

According to his interpretation, “the importance of specialized knowledge is growing in conditions of globalization and increasing use of information technology. Modern education projects are being created and will be carried out in this context.”

In June 2001, Russkiy Mir Foundation was created by a decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin to restore Russian cultural image, promote the Russian language and literature abroad, and its activities (operations) are ﬁnanced under a special state budget allocation approved by the State Duma (lower house of parliament) and the Federation Council.

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Doing Business in Africa: Beneﬁts, Risks and Challenges The African continent is increasingly becoming the global common hub for doing business. This continent, which not long ago, was described as a “hopeless continent” has now risen above all odds to actually show the potential that it possesses. Africa is looking more boisterous and attracting the world.

The economic fundamentals are clearly in favor of Africa. We are talking about the potential, the capacity, the zeal and the robust economic posture of continental Africa. The numbers are clearly in favor of Africa. We are talking about steadier exchange rates, robust commodity prices, increased private capital ﬂows and modMODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

est inﬂation. Africa's trade with the rest of the world has increased by more than 200 percent and foreign direct investment grew by 27 percent.

Rising middle class: The world is getting richer and about 90% of the world’s population lives in the emerging markets and the expectations are that we would have approximately 3 billion new people in the world’s middle class by 2030 and a lot of these people will not just be coming from Asia but Africa. Africa’s middle class stands about 400 million people today and estimated to balloon to 1.1 billion by 2060, thus representing 42% of the continent’s population by that year.

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The increasing pace of urbanization and consumerization in Africa is yet another force to consider. As Africans ﬂock to cities and disposable incomes rise, their demand for modern goods and services, such as, telecommunications and banking services will accelerate. Global businesses -- whether based in Asia, Europe or the Americas -- as well as homegrown African ﬁrms can’t miss out on this story. Labor and youthful population: The labor story is very positive with 60-70% of Africans under the age of 25 and by 2050; Africa’s population of 2 billion will have overtaken that of India (1.6billion) and of China (1.4billion). Africa has very young and dynamic population that global businesses and investors can leverage on in Africa. The continent is rich with untapped natural resources, arable land and buoyant consumer market. With a population of little over a billion, the continent possesses a strong consumer market for businesses. In terms of productivity, this continent is a great absorber of technology and is able to combine labor and capital to help spare economic growth.

Thus, with growth prospects buoyant, and the number of African consumers rising, businesses can no longer afford to ignore this vast continent, 54 countries -- and immense natural resources, including people. However, although returns can be high, so are the risks both

economic and sociopolitical, of fund Africa’s infrastructure for Doing Business in Africa. the next 10 years. Which is about 15% of the region’s GDP. An infrastructure deficiency: Cumbersome business cliMost operators in Africa will mate: Although the key busiagree that the economic effi- ness indicators are improving, ciency is not harmonized due to the region’s operating environdifficulty in accessing Africa’s ment remains one of the most markets. Therefore, for Africa difficult in the world, suffering to realize its full potential, a from high corruption, shortages fully structured and sustainable of key skills, stop-go policies, infrastructure development is poor regulations and labor needed. Although the continent union issues. has successfully maintained an average growth rate of between Business environment reform 4 % and 6% for the past few is strategic as a means of atyears, Africa accounts for 12% tracting more investors for deof the world’s population but velopment in Africa. Where only contributes 1% of global investors and markets are stiGDP and only 2% of world fled by inappropriate regulatrade. tions, excessive taxation, lack of unfair competition, unstable Faster growth in recent years policy environment, investment has highlighted deficiencies, opportunities are likely to sufexposing bottlenecks in ports, fer, and above all - as already roads, rail and power supply. mentioned, very poor infraEnergy, water, sanitation, tele- structure. coms and transport have long been identified as a major set- As a result, African countries back to Doing Business. Energy still dominate the lower supply continues to be Africa’s reaches of the World Bank’s largest infrastructure challenge “Doing Business” rankings. with 30 countries experiencing Business climates are hugely frequent power outages with divergent. But, there is an overjust over a third of Africa’s pop- all trend of improvement. Aculation having access to elec- cording to the World Bank, over tricity. Poor infrastructure cost a five-year horizon, from 2015 each member countries growth to 2020, Doing Business in to reduce by two percent point many African countries has imeach year and cut productivity proved, in some by large marby as much as 40%. gins. Mauritius, South Africa and Botswana are the three These issues have had pro- best locations for Doing Busifound effects on investors. ness in Africa. Very few locations have sufficient infrastructure. According Skilled labor deficiency: Most to the World Bank, about US$93 African countries have abunbillion is needed to be able to dant labor but finding skilled GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

workers can be difficult. According to Accenture, where highly educated people are available, they tend to lack practical management experience. Although employing expatriates is an option, this is not always the best solution. Expatriate personnel might find the living conditions in many African countries difficult. Employing foreign workers also slows down the skills transfer process.

Language barriers in certain African countries can also be a problem for expatriates. While investors have to deal with infrastructure deﬁciency and cumbersome business environment, unavaila bility of skilled labor is another.

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Making and receiving pay- (Modern Diplomacy helps forments as well as goods and not eign companies with market having a local partner are also research in Africa and Asia.) identified as a major blocks in Doing Business in Africa. Investors normally find it very difficult to have access to comprehensive sector by sector information on economies in Africa. This coupled with other factors such as fraud, political instability, dysfunctional institutions, corrupt government officials, adverse exchange rates and bureaucracy are major setbacks for Doing Business in Africa. Strategically addressing the difficulties above can help accelerate the rate of development, ensure economic growth and transformation in Africa.

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Looking Ahead with Hope

The first Russia-Africa Summit will take place in Sochi. Leaders from all 54 African countries have been invited to the summit, which, in scale and significance, is like the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation, the India-Africa Forum Summit, the U.S.-Africa Investment Forum and European-Africa Dialogue Forum. The summit has been in the planning for several months under the personal supervision of President Putin, and in an explicit statement from him: Russia is back in the African continent after a long absence – since the Soviet’s in 1991. London based Business Research and Consultancy firm published a new report about global players set to continue broadening economic and business engagement across Africa.

Nonetheless, negative perceptions still deeply persistent among political and business elite, middle class and the public towards Russia. For the two past decades, due to Russia’s low enthusiasm and slowness in delivering promptly on skyline investment pledges and promises have been identiﬁed as the key factors affecting effective cooperation between Russia and Africa.

The publication has become largely important as Russia with its recognizable global status and among BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) dominated headlines that it has played less visible role in sub-Saharan Africa after Soviet’s collapse. The situation begins to change and, indeed, this will usher in a new era of Russia-African cooperation. GEOPOLITICAL HANDBOOKS

In fact, Russia and Africa have to intensify efforts at strengthening their diplomatic relations and, coordinating the proce sses of implementing the existing post-Soviet agreements as well as new political declarations and agreements that will be reached at the end of the forthcoming summit in Sochi.

We would like to say, in conclusion, using again a few quotes and statements by highly placed policy experts and be guided by these quotes. Indeed, nearly three decades have elapsed and not much signiﬁcant have been achieved due to multiple factors (contained in this overall report) and as pointed out by highly experiMODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

enced experts in separate interviews as reported. Below, we reiterate few of them as follows:

Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Executive Secretary of SADC, said “Russia and Africa have been partners for many years, and expressed a desire to achieve a new level in the relationship.”

According to SADC Executive Secretary, Russia has not been visible in the region as compared to China, India or Brazil. But, for past few years, it is encouraging that Russia has made enthusiastic efforts towards repositioning itself to be a major partner with Southern Africa.

Professor Gerrit Olivier from the Department of Political Science, University of Pretoria in South Africa and former South Africa Ambassador to the Russian Federation, noted that Russian inﬂuence in Africa, despite efforts towards resuscitation remains marginal. “At present diplomacy dominates its approach, plethora of agreements have been signed with Southern Africa and various other countries in Africa, oﬃcial visits from Moscow proliferate apace, but the outcomes remain hardly discernible.” Dr. Kelvin Dewey Stubborn, South African based Senior Analyst on BRICS and African policy, suggested Russia change

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Foreign Affairs Minister Lavrov has acknowledged that Russia’s economic cooperation is not as far advanced as political ties but would do well to raise trade and economic ties to a high level of political cooperation by promoting joint activity in order to make broader use of the huge potential of RussiaAfrican trade and investment cooperation.

On the other hand, Lavrov, unreservedly, indicated that “Russia is not only committed to longterm cooperation but also ready for large-scale investments in the African markets with account of possible risks and high competition. Equally important is African businesspeople who are looking to work on the Russian market.”

its approach, move forward to deliver on overarching pledges and promises in order to win the hearts of Africans. Both Russian and African politicians have passionately been going forth and back for diplomatic consultations, but with little impact on the economic development in Africa. Russia has had a staggering economic proﬁle in the African region, but that is set to change in the coming years. There are signs that Russia-African relations look impressive – declarations of intentions have been made, important bilateral agreements signed – now it remains to be seen how these intentions and agreements would be implemented in practice.

With high optimism, Russian legislators plan to continue discussing effective ways of strengthening Russia-African relations with a focus on new mechanisms for exploring business opportunities in Africa. Building relations more effectively through parliamentary framework would certainly help to create an incentive for Russian businesses in Africa.

“We propose to move from intentions to concrete steps, and people will better understand each other through parliamentary relations. It is necessary to take certain steps together to work on the African continent,” Chairman of the State Duma, Viacheslav Volodin said.

Russia ultimately intends to regain its leading position and inﬂuence in Africa. Quite recently, among the initiatives designed to strengthen overall ties between Russia and Africa, are series of events such as Interparliamentary forum RussiaAfrica forum, followed by a Russia-Africa business forum. All of these will serve as important steps paving the way to a full-blown Russia-Africa Summit, as ﬁrst discussed at the meeting with African partners in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2018.

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