Russia’s vision for Africa: A key pillar in a multipolar world

A Russian Foreign Ministry official has emphasized Moscow’s commitment to supporting African nations’ sovereignty

In a January 6 article titled “The African pole of a multipolar world” published by Russia in Global Affairs, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Foreign Policy Planning examined Africa’s expanding role in international politics. 

Alexey Drobinin emphasized Africa’s need to establish itself as a key pole in the multipolar world, and the importance of cooperation based on equality and respect for sovereignty.

Russia has repeatedly stressed that tackling Africa’s problems requires an individual approach, led by African countries themselves. Speaking at the ‘Russia-Africa: What’s Next?’ forum in October at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), the director of the Africa Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Anatoly Bashkin, noted that “Russia is ready to assist the continent’s countries in achieving genuine sovereignty, and to actively resist Western attempts to impose politicized solutions to internal issues on our African friends, based on the principle formulated by Africans themselves: ‘African solutions to African problems’.”

The following are some key extracts from the article.

Moscow supports the ideals of Pan-Africanism, embodied in the African Union (AU). According to Drobinin, the AU serves as a platform for consolidating Africa’s voice on the global stage.  

“The African Union is the embodiment of pan-African beginnings. Consolidating countries on a continental platform, it increasingly raises its voice in world politics on behalf of all Africans,” he stated.

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Russia has strongly condemned the colonial exploitation of Africa and criticizes modern-day forms of neocolonialism. Drobinin highlighted the severe impact of centuries of European exploitation on Africa’s development. 

“Africa is the continent most affected by colonialism, and for centuries has been ruthlessly plundered by Europeans, extracting human and material resources from it,” he said. Africa remains on the periphery of the global division of labor, serving as a supplier of inexpensive raw materials and a consumer market for high-value goods. This unequal exchange is deliberately maintained by Western nations to advance their own development at the expense of others.

Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept emphasizes the country’s commitment to supporting Africa’s growth “as an original and influential center of world development.” President Vladimir Putin has said that fostering collaboration with African nations remains a consistent priority in Russia’s foreign policy agenda.

Africa does not include any states unfriendly to Russia, noting that “no country of the continent has joined the anti-Russian sanctions.” Drobinin added that the continent leads in rejecting Western-backed anti-Russia resolutions at the UN General Assembly.

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Alexey Drobinin stated that “today is the time of Russia’s return to the African continent, an era of reestablishing lost ties and catching up.” To understand the scale, he referenced historical trade figures, noting that in 1985, the Soviet Union’s trade with African nations amounted to $5.9 billion, but by 1995, it had dropped to just $0.98 billion. He highlighted the closure of various Russian embassies and consulates in African countries during that period.

The positive trend today is evidenced by the frequent visits of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to countries of the continent.

Russia is capable of assisting Africa in tackling key challenges, including achieving sovereignty and breaking free from neocolonial dependency.  “We need to help Africa climb several steps up in the international division of the labor system,” Drobinin stressed. Russia can play a significant role in strengthening the statehood of African nations.