Russia’s Africa Policy

The document examines Russia's strategic return to Africa after a period of decline in the 1990s. It details the transition from Soviet-era ideological support to a modern, pragmatic approach focused on natural resources, arms trade, and diplomatic influence. The analysis highlights the role of the BRICS framework, particularly South Africa's membership, as a catalyst for renewed engagement. While Russia has established diplomatic ties with all African nations and increased investments in mining and energy, the paper notes a gap between high-level agreements and practical implementation, as well as a continued disparity in attention between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

• Russia's engagement with Africa shifted from a period of near-abandonment in the 1990s under Boris Yeltsin to a 'turn to realism' and a multi-vector foreign policy under Vladimir Putin.
• The 2013 Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation emphasizes multifaceted interaction with African states, focusing on political dialogue, trade, economic cooperation, and the prevention of regional conflicts.
• Russia views Africa as a critical partner for raw materials because extracting resources in Africa is more cost-effective than developing Russia's own remote deposits in Siberia and the Far East.
• Russian investments in Africa are estimated between $9 billion and $20 billion, with over 18 major companies active in more than 40 projects, primarily in mining and oil extraction.
• The inclusion of South Africa in the BRICS group in 2010 served as a major stimulus for Russia to strengthen its African foreign policy vector.
• Despite high-level diplomatic visits and the signing of numerous treaties, there is a noted failure in the practical implementation of agreements, as exemplified by the ineffective 2009 agreements between Russia and Nigeria.
• Russia has provided significant financial relief to the continent by alleviating approximately $20 billion in debt for African countries.

APA

Arkhangelskaya, A., & Shubin, V. (2013). Russia’s Africa Policy. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Occasional-Paper-157.pdf

Chicago

Arkhangelskaya, Alexandra, and Vladimir Shubin. Russia’s Africa Policy. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Occasional-Paper-157.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Arkhangelskaya |first1=Alexandra |last2=Shubin |first2=Vladimir |title=Russia’s Africa Policy |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Occasional-Paper-157.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{arkhangelskaya2013russias, author = {Arkhangelskaya, Alexandra and Shubin, Vladimir}, title = {{Russia’s Africa Policy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Occasional-Paper-157.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }