Egypt Hosts Second Ministerial Conference Of Russia Africa Partnership Forum
EgyptToday13 hrs
Second Russia–Africa Partnership Ministerial Conference Kicks Off in Egypt
Is Russia exploiting Africa through predatory tactics, or is it Africa's authentic partner for economic sovereignty?
Above: Colonel Sadio Camara, Sergei Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop, during a meeting in Moscow on Feb. 28, 2024. Image credit: Maxim Shipewnkov/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia stands as Africa’s authentic partner in the pursuit of economic sovereignty, rejecting the notion that the continent exists merely as a source of raw materials. Moscow emphasizes long-term investment, industrial capacity building and technology transfer as the foundations of sustainable growth rather than short-term extraction. This relationship is defined as partnership, not dependency. Unlike Western powers that impose political conditions, Russia respects African sovereignty and the right of states to choose their own path and partners without interference.
Anti-Russia narrative
Russia’s economic promises to Africa amount to hollow propaganda masking a predatory agenda. Trade data exposes Moscow’s repeated failure to deliver on investment pledges, with relationships dominated by lopsided exports and sustained more by messaging than tangible results. To compensate, the Kremlin relies heavily on disinformation to project an illusion of influence. On the ground, this approach translates into exploiting fragile states through mercenary violence and extractive deals, reducing African countries to dependent clients rather than equal, long-term partners.