Grapevine

Why Russia-Africa trade should worry Kenya

When a section of African Heads of State posed for a photo with Russian President Vladimir Putin after attending the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019. [File, Standard]

Russia, after facing sanctions from the West due to its illegal invasion of Ukraine, has turned to Africa, a continent it largely abandoned after the Soviet era. This quest for renewed relations culminated in the first Africa-Russia summit in 2019, where the Kremlin sought to extend its influence. However, over the years, it has become evident that this relationship is one where Russia exploits the continent in various ways.

One glaring example of this exploitation is the imbalance of trade. Russia's trade volume with Africa in 2022 was a mere US$18.4 billion, significantly lower than the continent’s traditional partners such as China (US$199 billion), Italy (US$76.3 billion), France (US$67.8 billion), the US (US$65.7 billion), and Germany (US$45 billion). Africa imports far more from Russia than it exports, creating a significant trade imbalance.

Although Russia is becoming a partner in Africa's oil and mining sectors, it lags far behind as an overall trading partner. According to the International Monetary Fund, less than 1 per cent of Africa’s exports go to Russia, compared with 33 per cent to the European Union. Additionally, African imports from Russia account for under 2per cent of its total imports, highlighting the minimal trade relationship compared to other global partners. This imbalance likely explains why African countries have shown tepid responses to Moscow’s strategic pivot. Only 17 African heads of state attended the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit, less than half of those at the 2019 summit.

Russia also exploits political unrest and discontent in coup-hit African nations. By capitalising on popular frustration and anger towards former colonial powers, Russia has entered countries where military coups have ousted governments seen as close to Western powers like France. In nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, Russia offers security assistance through Private Military Contractors (PMC), specifically the Africa Corps. In return, Moscow gains access to valuable minerals and other contracts, to the detriment of these African countries, which continue to struggle with poverty and instability.