BY G. MADARAKA NYERERE
The recent revelation that African heads of state queued up during the Russia-Africa Summit to receive ice cream from their host, President Vladimir Putin, has been shamelessly portrayed as a Santa Claus event, ignoring the more consequential conversations taking place on economic partnerships and Africa’s development prospects. The summit, if properly understood, offers a platform for deeper engagement on these issues.
The Russia-Africa summits are rooted in the historical ties between African countries and the Soviet Union, forged through Cold War solidarity and support for Africa’s liberation struggles. This included political, military and logistical assistance, scholarships for thousands of African students, and economic and military cooperation.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 re-aligned Russia’s priorities towards the West, resulting in a significant decline in its African engagements. This retreat created opportunities for Western countries and China to deepen their economic, trade and industrial ties with Africa, with China consolidating relationships established during the continent’s post-independence period.
The scale of Russia’s lost economic ground is reflected in subsequent figures. Soviet-African trade, valued at approximately US2.7billionin1990,had collapsedtoUS740 million by 1994. Meanwhile, Africa-China trade grew from US11 billionin 2000 toUS56 billion in 2006. By 2005, Chinese investment stock in Africa had reached US$1.6 billion, with Chinese companies operating in 48 African countries. These figures illustrate how rapidly China expanded its economic presence as Russia retreated.
One factor behind Russia’s renewed interest in Africa is its deteriorating relations with the West and growing Western hostility towards Moscow. Furthermore, African countries pose no foreseeable strategic threat to Russia. While it is reasonable to argue that Russia, like other powers, seeks neo-colonial dominance through its economic, financial and trade relations with Africa, it should also be acknowledged that Russia is itself a resource-rich country now potentially experiencing what Africa has endured for centuries.
What is important is that Africa must not choose between Western neo-colonialism and Russian geopolitical ambitions. It should be able to engage both and other global powers on its own terms. An ideal Russia-Africa partnership would be one in which Russia helps Africa become more industrialised, technologically advanced, economically independent, and politically influential, rather than simply becoming another external power competing for access to its markets, natural resources and strategic positions.
That is the real test of whether Russia’s renewed engagement with Africa represents a departure from the continent’s historical experience of external domination or merely a new version of it.
A quotation attributed to Mwalimu Nyerere aptly captures the predicament Africa faces: “Small countries are like indecently dressed women. They tempt the evil-minded.” His message remains relevant: Africa’s vulnerability to external domination lies partly in its fragmentation and inability to negotiate collectively. Ultimately, its strength lies in unity and strategic autonomy.
madaraka.nyerere@gmail.com
