Putin Tells African Leaders at Moscow Summit That Russia Is Their Best Partner

Moscow, Russia. President Vladimir Putin told African leaders on Wednesday that Russia is their best partner. He accused the West, which he portrayed as colonial, of still seeking to exploit Africa’s resources and of using debt to hold back the continent’s development.

Summit format

Putin spoke at the third Russia-Africa Summit, a two-day gathering in Moscow. Government delegations and leaders from 48 African countries are taking part, including 22 individual heads of state. Putin is due to hold one-on-one talks with many of them, covering trade, security, arms deals and grain supplies. The first summit took place in 2019.

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Criticism of Western countries

Putin said Africa is establishing itself as a major participant in world economics and politics. He added that the rise of a multipolar world meets resistance from countries unwilling to accept it, namely those used to thinking in terms of their colonial past and to enriching themselves enormously. He did not name those countries. Western critics regularly accuse Putin of trying to use Africa’s colonial history for Moscow’s benefit.

He also spoke of what he called “active attempts by Western countries” to push Africans back into debt bondage and to make them accept much-needed financing on predatory terms. In his view, this slows their long-term development.

Russia’s offer to African states

Putin said Russia, by contrast, is prepared to share its expertise, including in the digital field, and to localise production instead of simply purchasing raw materials. He said:

“Our business does not engage in the predatory, neo-colonial exploitation of natural and human resources, but rather expands the processing of raw materials locally, thereby creating new jobs and generating tax revenue”

Western governments have accused Russian paramilitary forces of propping up military juntas such as the one in Mali. They say the aim is to strengthen Moscow’s geopolitical influence and push out former colonial powers such as France. Moscow rejects these claims.

Putin said Russia supports a larger African role in the IMF and the World Bank and is ready to launch joint transport and agricultural infrastructure projects. He noted that around 40,000 Africans are studying at Russian universities, a record number.

Moscow is also ready to supply grain and fertiliser to more than the 40 African countries that currently receive them, Putin said. He added that Russia delivered 13 million metric tonnes of agricultural products to Africa in the first nine months of this year alone.

Wider strategic context

The summit forms part of a coordinated drive to expand Russian political, economic and military influence in Africa. Paramilitary fighters from Russia’s Africa Corps remain active on the continent. Russian state media and cultural institutions are trying to widen their presence, and Russian state companies are seeking to expand their interests in sectors ranging from mining to power generation.

Courting African leaders and others from the Global South is also a key element of Moscow’s strategy to offset Western pressure on the world stage over Russia’s war in Ukraine.