
The first Russia-Africa Summit was held on 23–24 October 2019 in Sochi, Russia, co-hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Forty-three heads of state or government were in attendance. Putin emphasized “state sovereignty” and Russian willingness to offer aid or trade deals “without political or other conditions” said that “an array of Western countries are resorting to pressure, intimidation and blackmail of sovereign African governments,” against which Russia was well suited to help African states push back.
Russia has been expanding its influence in Africa in recent years. After the invasion of Ukraine, it will be expecting its new-found allies to provide support or at least remain neutral, in international bodies such as the UN. From Libya to Mali, Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Mozambique, and elsewhere Russia has been getting more involved – often militarily with help fighting rebels or Jihadist militants.
At the UN Security Council, Kenya, currently a non-permanent member, made its opposition to Russian action in Ukraine very clear. But there has not yet been a loud chorus from other countries backing Kenya’s position. The continental body, the African Union, expressed “extreme concern” about what was going on but was muted in its criticism of Russia.
South Africa, a partner of Russia in the BRICS group, has called on the country to withdraw its forces from Ukraine but said it still held out hope for a negotiated solution. On the other hand, CAR President, Faustin Archange Touadéra has been reported to back Russia’s decision to recognize the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent state.
