For the past few years, Russia has been rapidly expanding its footprint in Africa.
- Russia is prioritizing its expansion in Africa.
- Russia recently added Nigeria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia to its currency trading list and plans to trade with Tanzania in local currencies.
- Russia’s relationship with Africa is based on friendship, non-interference, lack of double standards, and mutually beneficial collaboration.
Very recently, this point was re-iterated by a Russian official, who called Russia’s push in Africa a top priority.
The speaker of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly, Vyacheslav Volodin, noted that the growing relationship between the Kremlin and several African states has become a major point of focus for the country’s administration.
He made the assertion during his meeting with Djibouti’s National Assembly Chairman Dileita Mohamed Dileita.
This has been evident with the numerous energy deals being initiated between state-owned Russian energy company Rosatom and a few countries on the continent.
Additionally, bilateral relations between Russia and various African countries, alongside currency initiatives, demonstrate Russia’s growing influence on the continent.
Very recently Russia added Nigeria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia to its list of currency trading partners.
Shortly after, the Eurasian country touted plans to trade with Tanzania in both their local currencies, a move that underscores Russia’s intention to de-dollarize its economy.
Speaking on Russia’s interest in Africa, Volodin stated that Russia-African relations are based on the values of friendship, non-interference in sovereign state affairs, the lack of double standards, and mutually beneficial collaboration.
Additionally, the speaker noted that the meeting with the African representative would enhance the partnership between the two parliaments on all levels, as reported by Sputnik.
He also emphasized the significance of systemic interaction and developing new kinds of collaboration to boost bilateral ties.
Recent energy deals between Russia and some African countries
In July, 2024, Russia’s state-owned energy company Rosatom struck a nuclear agreement with Congo.
In June of the same year, Russia and the Republic of Guinea collaborated on a nuclear project. They signed a memorandum of understanding in St. Petersburg to build floating nuclear power plants.
In March, Algeria’s Ministry of Energy and Rosatom inked an energy partnership deal.
Recently these types of deals have grown more popular in Africa as countries weigh the benefits of working with Russia against Western markets.
The East African country of Rwanda signed an agreement in 2019 to build nuclear units in collaboration with Russia’s nuclear agency, Rosatom.
