Russia–Africa relations in an age of renewed great power competition

Russia is prioritising its Africa outreach to reduce the impact of Western sanctions and its growing isolation.

Rising global tensions, spurred on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have challenged Africa’s relationship with Moscow. Africa’s divided response to the conflict is seen by stakeholders across geopolitical divides as either an indication of its commitment to the international rules-based order, or lack thereof. This report assesses Russia–Africa relations against this backdrop. It argues that Africa requires a coherent strategy to both manage its relations with global powers and pursue its developmental and human security agenda.

About the author

Priyal Singh is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies’ (ISS) Africa in the World project in Pretoria, South Africa. He holds an MA with distinction in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand and is certified in statistics for research and design.

Image: Amelia Broodryk/ISS