By bringing together more than 40 African heads of state in the seaside resort of Sochi this week for the first-ever Russia-Africa summit, Vladimir Putin has won his bid with prowess. That of marking the return in force of the former communist power on a continent from which it had retired at the fall of the Soviet Union, leaving the place to the Western countries, great winners of the Cold War, and to China.

For Louis Keumayou, Africa specialist and president of the African Information Club, Russia's charm operation for Africa is successful: "It is already a great achievement to have been able to gather as many heads of state and government in Sochi while some have internal security issues that could have prevented them from coming. "

During the summit, held from 22 to 24 October, the Russian president promised to double trade with Africa in the next five years. In 2018, these were valued at $ 17 billion. Far from trade with Europe (275 billion dollars) and with China (200 billion dollars).

Moscow intends to rely on former African communist regimes such as Angola or Ethiopia, with whom Russia has ties. It can also count on its two major economic partners, Algeria and Egypt. "These two countries account for half of all trade with Africa, and North Africa can be a gateway for Russia on the continent across the Mediterranean," said Igor Delanoe, deputy director of the Observatory. French-Russian based in Moscow. It is the Egyptian Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, the current President of the African Union, who co-chaired the summit with Vladimir Putin.

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"Since the Ukrainian crisis and the policy of both European and American sanctions, many European and Western markets have closed to Russia, and Africa has established itself as an interesting geographical area to find new markets", explained on RFI Arnaud Kaluka, specialist of Russia at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri).

Military and nuclear expertise

At the meeting in Sochi, the former communist power put forward its military expertise. If large arms contracts have not been announced, Russia has multiplied upstream military cooperation and defense agreements with several African countries including Mali, prey to the terrorist threat to the north and the center that is struggling to curb the G5 Sahel Joint Force.

Russia has also found markets for its nuclear industry. Ethiopia has signed an agreement with Rosatom, the Russian state-owned company already present in Zambia, for the creation of an experimental reactor to fill its energy gap. Rwanda, meanwhile, came out of the summit with an agreement to build a nuclear research center.

Moscow has also moved closer to African mines by signing commodity exploration agreements with South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, two oil-rich countries. On the African hydrocarbon market, the Russian giants Gasprom and Rosneft are also present.

Enhanced presence in the French meadow

Several signs foreshadowed Moscow's return to the African scene. Including the strengthening of the Russian presence in the Central African Republic. In this mineral-rich country - like diamonds - ravaged by the civil war, the Russians have seized control of the state security apparatus, including the intelligence services led by Valery Zakharov, president's security advisor. Faustin-Archangel Touadera.

The former policeman from St. Petersburg is also said to have ties to the controversial Evgeny Prigojin, a relative of Vladimir Putin who has interests in the private military group Wagner, whose mercenaries are involved in training Central African soldiers. The Russian company, which has reportedly been very active in the Donbass war, is also securing gold and diamond mining concessions for the Russian businessman Lobaye Invest of the discreet businessman Evgeny Khodotov.

The growing influence of Russia in a country of French-speaking Africa, a pre-square of France, worries Paris. "There has been a certain optical effect in recent months with the appearance of a Russian presence in French-speaking Africa to which we were not used," explains Igor Delanoe. "Moscow took advantage of a breach opened in 2017 by the easing of the embargo decided by the UN [against the Central African Republic] to put a foot where it already had a form of presence", detailed on RFI Arnaud Kaluka .

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In the opposite direction, a dozen African heads of State have visited the Kremlin since 2015. African leaders have been increasingly seduced by a Russian political speech favorable to the stability of even authoritarian regimes. "There are sorts of measures proposed by the Russians to African governments to intensify bilateral security cooperation with training and arms deliveries, all aimed at consolidating the security apparatus to guard against future challenges. ", explains Igor Delanoë, deputy director of the Franco-Russian Observatory.

Thus, in January, during an official speech, Alexander Bregadze, former Russian ambassador to Guinea-Conakry, openly supported the draft revision of the Constitution that could allow Alpha Condé to stand for a third term. "The Constitutions are neither dogmas, nor the Bible, nor the Koran, they adapt to reality and we support you, Mr. President, Guinea needs you," he said.

Moscow promises stability

At the Sochi summit, Vladimir Putin did not fail to pose as a bulwark against the attempts to overthrow African regimes: "Several countries are confronted with the consequences of the Arab Spring." Result: all of North Africa is destabilized ... In this region, but also in the Sahara and Sahel areas, in the Lake Chad region, there are many terrorist organizations, including Daesh, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and Al-Shebab. It seems important to increase the joint efforts of Russia and Africa in the field of counter-terrorism. "

But Russia could soon be at odds with the aspirations of an African youth more favorable to alternations and democratic values. "With this type of speech, there is indeed a risk of being out of step with the expectations of civil society: Russia has already paid for it in Sudan with the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir [near Moscow. ], "explains Igor Delanoe.

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However, the multiplication of economic partners can only be beneficial for the continent, think some analysts. "For a long time, neocolonialism was mainly embodied in the French-speaking part of France, and we have to go out of our head with the former colonial powers, which is what Russia is proposing. Russia comes with military cooperation, "concludes Louis Keumayou.