Wednesday,
during the vote on a resolution at the UN to demand that Russia stop its invasion of Ukraine, many African countries abstained.
A refusal to come out against Russia which can be explained by the close ties woven between Moscow and Africa.
Many common interests explain this rapprochement.
On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding "that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine".
In detail, 141 countries approved it, only 5 opposed it and 35 abstained.
Among the latter, we logically find China, Cuba or even Kazakhstan, but also 17 African countries - to which must be added Eritrea, which is one of the five Nations that voted against.
Nearly half of the votes against the resolution therefore come from this continent, proof of the influence that Russia still exercises over it.
Understanding it requires going back in time.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union became involved in Africa, massively supporting anti-colonial and pro-independence movements, in order to reduce Western control over the continent.
Carole Grimaud Potter, professor of geopolitics on Russian influence at the University of Montpellier, cites in particular support for Algeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Egypt, with economic aid , military or diplomatic.
Moscow is going so far as to build a university especially for African students, in order to train the continent's future political decision-makers.
A growth market
This cooperation ended at the end of the 1980s, at the twilight of the USSR, and remained a dead letter throughout the following decade, Russia already seeking to rebuild itself before expanding.
But from the new millennium, Africa again attracts covetousness.
“In the early 2000s, China made no secret of its intentions to invest massively there.
The continent is experiencing strong growth.
Vladimir Poutine travels for the first time on the spot in 2005 and multiplies the visits on the continent.
Africa has been designated as a major strategic issue for Russia”, informs Roland Marchal, research fellow at Science Po and specialist in the policies of the great powers in Africa.
The continent is a booming economic market, confirms Carole Grimaud Potter, taking the example of wheat: Russia is the world's leading producer and exporter, and sells 37% of its exports to Africans.
“In the event of an economic conflict with the European Union or the United States, Africa remains a stable market, which does not take sanctions or boycotts,” adds the expert.
Economic and military influence
A market that is doubly easy to exploit.
On the one hand, the Soviet Union having already invested in it in the past, Russia therefore only has to revive relations, notes Roland Marchal in the first place.
Furthermore, “Russia is an expert in civil nuclear power and in mining, two key skills for Africa.
And of course, there is the military sector.
Russian weapons are robust, easy to use and inexpensive, three highly prized qualities”, develops the researcher.
Because the Russian influence in Africa is also military.
"Moscow notably supports authoritarian regimes without many allies on the international scene", does not hide Carole Grimaud Potter.
Cooperation with "touchy" regimes, as the expert calls them, such as Sudan, Libya, Mali or the Central African Republic, which is establishing its presence - Russia, for example, has set up a military base in Sudan - in addition to provide him with loyal allies for lack of an alternative.
The diplomatic aspect, the other side of Moscow
It's because Moscow is trying to extend its diplomatic influence in Africa.
In 2019, the first Russia-Africa summit was organized, bringing together Vladimir Putin and the majority of African heads of state.
In addition to a commercial and military alliance, Russia has a strong argument: "Moscow makes its honey in Africa on an anti-Western discourse, which inevitably resonates with angry populations after centuries of colonialism and decades of failed post-colonialism”, supports Roland Marchal.
The vote at the UN on Wednesday thus shows the key advantage for Moscow of this diplomatic rapprochement: winning favorable votes, or at least not unfavorable ones.
Of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, 54 are African, the most represented continent with more than a quarter of the votes.
“This represents a decisive stake for Russia against the voices of Western countries, which are generally unfavorable.
African countries are not aligned with the European Union or the United States and apply their own vote”, develops Roland Marchal.
Another country has also understood these issues well and is trying to extend its area of influence there with the same or almost the same arguments: China.
“For the moment, the two giants manage not to collide, avoiding tensions,” says Carole Grimaud Potter.
But until when ?
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