‘Economic incentives are limited’: What does Russia really offer Africa?

In 2019, I travelled to Berengo Palace, extracurricular Bangui, to interrogation Russian mercenaries.

Once the location of Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the Central African Republic’s self-crowned emperor, it was present occupied by fighters from the Wagner Group. One of the archetypal things they told maine was not astir the state they had travel to defend, but the state they had left.

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A antheral named Vladimir shook my hand.

“Russia is backmost successful Africa,” helium said.

Seven years later, Wagner’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is dead.

In the Sahel, Wagner has fixed mode to Africa Corps, controlled by Russia’s Ministry of Defence. Moscow is warring a warfare successful Ukraine, wherever Africans person been recruited, immoderate nether mendacious pretences. An probe by Journalists for Justice documented 502 African deaths by June 2026.

In Douala, Cameroon, I met Mama Regina, her eyes bloodshot arsenic she held backmost tears. Her lad Moses had gone to Russia to fight. His representation hung connected the wall.

“So handsome,” she whispered. Like truthful galore families, she is waiting for his body. Once again, Africans are mourning men mislaid successful idiosyncratic else’s warfare connected different continent acold distant from home.

In grief, immoderate person turned to a tiny but increasing Russian Orthodox church. Its Cameroonian pastor was trained successful St Petersburg. He says helium is present to preach the “good news”.

Russia-Africa Summit

African leaders are gathering successful Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit. In 2019, 43 African heads of authorities oregon authorities attended the archetypal acme successful Sochi.

In St Petersburg successful 2023, aft Russia invaded Ukraine, lone 17 heads of authorities came. Putin offered escaped atom to six African countries, which Russia aboriginal delivered. This year, the Kremlin expects delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state.

“The economical incentives to spell for the Russia acme are overmuch much limited,” says Beverly Ochieng, a Dakar-based analyst.

Compared with United States-Africa and China-Africa summits, she says, Moscow offers less ample concern commitments.

“The governmental incentives for attending are the superior reasons wherefore these countries are there.”

For the subject governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Russia offers thing much immediate: Support to stay successful power.

France was pushed out; Russia stepped in. Yet equipped groups proceed to attack, and Human Rights Watch has accused Africa Corps forces successful Mali of sidesplitting civilians and torturing detainees.

The Soviet Union trained generations of African officers, politicians and students during decolonisation.

Ochieng learned Russian astatine the embassy successful Kenya. Moscow, she says, tin inactive play the paper of “we didn’t colonise you.”

But Russia is facing Western sanctions and looking for economical opportunities successful its narration with African nations.

In Mali, operation has begun connected a golden refinery backed by Russia’s Yadran Group; the Malian authorities holds a 62-percent stake. In Guinea, Russian aluminium elephantine Rusal operates bauxite mines and an alumina plant. In Niger, Rosatom subsidiaries are discussing uranium projects with the government, aft the takeover of a excavation formerly operated by France’s Orano. A abstracted effort to merchantability existing uranium stockpiles remains successful dispute.

Earlier this month, Putin said Russia’s purpose was not to “steal thing from Africa” but to “develop together”.

Russia’s commercialized with Africa was astir $28bn successful 2025, compared with China’s $348bn. The European Union exchanged astir 355 cardinal euros ($395bn) successful goods with Africa successful 2024.

Sergey Eledinov, a erstwhile Russian serviceman and information analyst, sees a trap successful Russia’s subject bargain successful Africa. By securing governments, Moscow whitethorn springiness them country to look elsewhere. “Survival doesn’t make loyalty,” helium says. “It creates options.”

Ochieng besides cautions against mistaking Russian flags astatine demonstrations for wide support. They bash not mean “all Africans are conscionable sitting astir being pro-Russia,” she said.

For Moscow, she says, the acme is simply a accidental to show its continued “political relevance”, adjacent if the West progressively regards it arsenic a pariah state.