Russia’s Resurgence in Africa: Zimbabwe and Mozambique

The report analyzes Russia's strategic return to Africa, driven by Western sanctions and falling oil prices. It focuses on Zimbabwe and Mozambique, highlighting a pattern of elite-directed cooperation centered on extractive industries, arms trade, and political support. While Russia's economic footprint is significantly smaller than China's, it leverages an 'anti-West narrative' and a high tolerance for corruption to secure access to natural resources and political loyalty, often utilizing proxy organizations for election monitoring and paramilitary groups for security.

• Russia's renewed interest in Africa is primarily driven by the economic pressures of declining global oil prices and the imposition of Western sanctions following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
• Russian economic engagement in Africa is substantially smaller than China's, with trade valued at $20 billion compared to China's $200 billion.
• Russia promotes a 'no strings attached' cooperation model, utilizing an anti-Western narrative that emphasizes the sovereignty of African states and a disregard for liberal principles of transparency and accountability.
• In Zimbabwe, Russia has engaged in 'arms-for-platinum' deals, specifically renegotiating access to the Darwendale platinum mine in exchange for MiG-29 and MiG-35 aircraft.
• The Great Dyke Investments (GDI) platinum project in Zimbabwe has faced significant financing hurdles because both its Russian and Zimbabwean partners are subject to international sanctions.
• Russia utilizes the Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (AFRIC), a proxy organization, to provide favorable election monitoring reports in Zimbabwe (2018) and Mozambique (2019).
• Russian involvement in Mozambique includes the use of Wagner Group mercenaries to provide combat support against jihadists in the Cabo Delgado region, though the operation ended in March 2020 after several fatalities.
• The 2019 Russia-Africa Summit led to the 2020 establishment of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, which is supported by six primary companies focused on the resources sector: Gazprombank, Transmashholding, Vi Holding, Uralkali, Alrosa, and Rosatom.
• Russian economic activity in Mozambique is characterized by the 'embryonic stage' of hydrocarbons and mining, including Rosneft's acquisition of exploration blocks and Tazetta Resources' heavy mineral sands project.

APA

KACHUR, D. (2020). Russia’s Resurgence in Africa: Zimbabwe and Mozambique. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Special-Report-kachur-002.pdf

Chicago

KACHUR, DZVINKA. Russia’s Resurgence in Africa: Zimbabwe and Mozambique. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Special-Report-kachur-002.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=KACHUR |first1=DZVINKA |title=Russia’s Resurgence in Africa: Zimbabwe and Mozambique |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Special-Report-kachur-002.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kachur2020russias, author = {KACHUR, DZVINKA}, title = {{Russia’s Resurgence in Africa: Zimbabwe and Mozambique}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Special-Report-kachur-002.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }