Highlights: Maxim Matusevich: It's part of Russian soft power. Russia has positioned itself in relation to the countries of the South as a bulwark of traditional values. The relationship with the West remains very complex. On the one hand, Africans try to emigrate to the West, to go and study there, they like Western culture. The memory of the colonial past, the memory of racist colonial hierarchies is eliciting a positive reaction in many African countries. The Russian Orthodox Church makes many statements about its expansion on the continent.

During the Russia-Africa summit due to be held on 27th and 28th July in St Petersburg several round tables are due to discuss support for African children and the promotion of traditional values...

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"Russia stands as a bulwark of traditional values in Africa"

At the Russia-Africa summit to be held on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg, several round tables are expected to discuss support for African children and the promotion of traditional values "under pressure from aggressive liberalism." A mission entrusted to Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children, accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Interview with Russian-born historian Maxim Matusevich, specialist on Africa and professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Historian Maxim Matusevich. © Personal archives of Maxime Matoussevitch.

Text by: Anya Stroganova

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RFI: Russia intends to promote traditional values in Africa and develop humanitarian projects in support of African children. How do you explain this Russian strategy?

Maxim Matusevich: It's part of Russian soft power. In recent years, Russia has positioned itself in relation to the countries of the South and, above all, in relation to African countries, as a bulwark of traditional values. When you look at what Russia can offer Africa, there is not much, but the little that exists is important. They export arms: 50% of the weapons that arrive on the continent come from Russia. For the rest, it is not really ideology, it is moralizing ideas: the preservation of traditional values, the traditional conception of gender.

For example, in the Central African Republic, one of the first African countries where the mercenaries of the Wagner group appeared, they sponsored beauty contests. This may seem innocent. But why beauty pageants? Because these competitions contribute to the propagation of traditional values and gender stereotypes. Investing in these competitions is part of Russian foreign policy.

In this sense, Maria Lvova-Belova [the Russian Commissioner for Children, Editor's note], who is accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, fulfills a contract with the Russian government. It participates in the effort to represent Russia as a bulwark of traditional values. It works in close cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church. This alliance between the State and the Church is interesting. Shortly before the intervention in Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church opened two new branches in Africa: in Cairo, Egypt, and in Johannesburg, South Africa. What for? Precisely to be one of the channels of Russian foreign policy.

The Russian Orthodox Church makes many statements about its expansion on the continent, explaining in particular that it brings the word of the Gospel to Africa. Does Africa need this kind of offer?

Such a demand clearly exists in Africa. This can be seen not only in the actions of the Russian Orthodox Church, but also in those of the Western Churches, which are active on the continent. Today, evangelical churches are very present in Africa: in Uganda, for example, where a terrible anti-LGBT law has been passed with financial support from Western churches. Where churches are emptying in the West, they are filling up in Africa. This is due, among other things, to the economic context. Moreover, the population in Africa remains very conservative. The argument of castigating the libertarian West and defender of LGBT rights or gender equality can please and it is easy to take advantage of it. This is exactly what Russia is doing.

Could the mandate of the International Criminal Court against Maria Lvova-Belova slow her down in her activities on the African continent?

It may be that this bothers some African heads of state, but this arrest warrant [Editor's note: Maria Lvova-Belova is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for "war crimes" because of her involvement in the deportations of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia] is above all a further confirmation that Russia is truly opposed to the West. The relationship with the West remains very complex. On the one hand, Africans try to emigrate to the West, to go and study there, they like Western culture. On the other hand, there is the memory of the colonial past, the memory of racist colonial hierarchies. The fact that Russia is positioning itself against the West is eliciting a positive reaction in many African countries.

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"Russia stands as a bulwark of traditional values in Africa"

"Russia stands as a bulwark of traditional values in Africa"

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