RUSSIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH AFRICA
Is the next summit worth it? Asks OUMAROU SANOU Less than a month before the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for 28–29 October in Moscow, African delegations face a question that has
Less than a month before the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, African delegations must weigh whether the risk of flying into a city targeted by Ukrainian drones is worth the potential benefits. The security question is clear: a 6 October drone attack killed two people and sparked a 1,600-drone barrage that day. In response, Air Tanzania suspended its Moscow route only days later after pressure from commercial and diplomatic quarters.
While Russia claims to offer protection through private military contractors and the Africa Corps, the economic case falls short. Russia's trade with Africa has only grown modestly and accounts for less than 1% of foreign direct investment. Additionally, reports suggest African resources, particularly manpower, have been enlisted to bolster Russia's war effort, making the partnership mutually beneficial at best questionable.
With no African location for the summit and Russia hosting three editions in Western capitals instead, the summit's location and Russia's strategic approach raise questions about the partnership's true nature.
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