Africa needs to forge a unified approach to Russia before 2023 Russia-Africa Summit

The document examines Russia's increasing diplomatic and military push into Africa, highlighted by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's July 2022 visits to Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia. It notes that while Russia was the largest arms supplier to Africa in 2021 (44% of imports) and a critical wheat provider, African states remain divided in their response to the invasion of Ukraine, with 48% abstaining from a UN General Assembly resolution. The author contends that Africa's collective GDP of $2.7 trillion in 2021 exceeds Russia's $1.7 trillion, suggesting that a unified approach via the African Union's Partnership Management and Coordination Division and the African Continental Free Trade Area would increase the continent's agency and bargaining power.

• Russia has significantly expanded its military influence in Africa, becoming the primary arms supplier in 2021 and signing military agreements with over 20 countries, often involving the Wagner Group.
• African nations are heavily dependent on Russia and Ukraine for food security, with Russia providing 32% and Ukraine 12% of Africa's wheat imports between 2018 and 2020.
• African states showed a divided response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly in March 2022, with 48% voting in favour of a resolution denouncing the invasion and 48% abstaining or not voting.
• Africa possesses greater collective economic power than Russia, with a 2021 collective GDP of approximately $2.7 trillion compared to Russia's $1.7 trillion.
• To avoid being used as geopolitical pawns, the author recommends that the African Union strengthen its Partnership Management and Coordination Division to help member states establish joint positions on Russia and other global partners.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2022). Africa needs to forge a unified approach to Russia before 2023 Russia-Africa Summit. https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-needs-to-forge-a-unified-approach-to-russia-before-2023-russia-africa-summit/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Africa needs to forge a unified approach to Russia before 2023 Russia-Africa Summit. 2022. https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-needs-to-forge-a-unified-approach-to-russia-before-2023-russia-africa-summit/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Africa needs to forge a unified approach to Russia before 2023 Russia-Africa Summit |date=3 August 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-needs-to-forge-a-unified-approach-to-russia-before-2023-russia-africa-summit/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2022africa, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Africa needs to forge a unified approach to Russia before 2023 Russia-Africa Summit}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-needs-to-forge-a-unified-approach-to-russia-before-2023-russia-africa-summit/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }