Russia in Africa: What is Putin hoping to achieve?

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine led President Vladimir Putin to seek support from other parts of the world, with Africa becoming a focus. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has visited the continent frequently, and a Russia-Africa summit has been held in Moscow roughly every three years since 2019. These summits focus on economic cooperation, politics, security, science, and culture.

Russia is actively working with only a few African countries, mainly in the north. South Africa remains Africa's largest economy, but its trade with Russia is minimal compared to Egypt and Algeria. Egypt, Africa's second-largest economy, has seen its trade volume with Russia double since 2021, reaching $10.5 billion in 2025. Russia is building a nuclear power plant in Egypt, financed by a $25 billion Russian loan, which accounts for around 85% of construction costs.

While Egypt is one of the few African countries with stable business relationships with Russia, Cairo pursues its own interests. Russia's share of Africa's foreign trade is very small, at 3.9% in 2025, despite Moscow's significant investment in the continent. Russia is not a significant trading partner for Africa, with the European Union being the most important partner, with $385 billion in trade volume in 2025. Other traditional powers like China, the United States, and India also have larger trade volumes with Africa.

Russia's military presence in Africa is more dominant than its trade and investment activities. The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, supports African regimes, particularly in the Sahel region, in exchange for access to raw materials. Russian military contingents are present in countries like the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya, where they are crucial for mineral deposits and energy projects.