Russia's renewed focus on Africa

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, Russia has become increasingly isolated. In an attempt to counter Western powers’ efforts to suppress its economy and soft power impacts, Russia has tried to increase its influence in other parts of the world. In particular, Russia is increasingly active on the African continent, having become a key partner to several African regimes, typically operating in areas with weak institutions and governments. Additionally, Russia’s approach has a different focus and objectives compared to other foreign actors, which may have both short and long term consequences for the continent’s development. Deepening our understanding of Russia’s distinct approach alongside those of other global actors, as well as the future implications of their involvement on the continent is, thus, of crucial importance.

Key issues

• Russia’s targeted partnerships: Russia tends to collaborate with countries that have unstable governments or weak institutions, often trading political and military support for access to natural resources.
• Propaganda and anti-Western influence: Russia spreads anti-Western narratives and disinformation to fuel distrust and gain influence in African societies, often undermining democratic ideals.
• Short-term vs. long-term impact: Russia's approach is opportunistic, with a focus on immediate benefits, unlike other foreign actors like China, which invest in long-term infrastructure projects.

Meet the author

• Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE)

The policy brief was published by the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) in September 2024.

Cover image generated by DALL-E through OpenAI's ChatGPT.