Weapons and wheat: Russia and its ‘oversized’ influence in Africa

Name: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war
Uploaded: 2022-03-06T12:00:15.000Z
Duration: 4 min 33 s
Description: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

Russia is a trading minnow on the continent compared with China but its exports play a big part in many African countries

Moscow has been the biggest arms seller in the region for more than a decade, propping up regimes on Nato’s southern flank, analysts say

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Russia has been the biggest supplier of arms to Africa for the past 15 years. Photo: EPA-EFE

Jevans Nyabiage

Published: 8:00pm, 6 Mar 2022

When the motion was put to a vote, only one African country came out in support of Russia.

Eritrea was the sole country on the continent to give its support to Moscow and vote against a motion at the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While many voted in favour of the resolution, about half of the African countries abstained, reflecting the influence Russia has on the continent.

Despite being a small economic player in Africa compared to other countries such as China, Russia has political, military and resource ties with the continent that have a direct effect on life in African countries, observers say.

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Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

Joseph Siegle, research director for the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defence University in Washington, said the UN vote overwhelmingly condemned Russia, and the invasion had been clearly denounced by the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and leading democracies including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria.

“So, openly collaborating with Russia for the near future will carry significant reputational costs. As the human costs from Russia’s unprovoked war mount, ties with Russia will become even more problematic,” Siegle said.