Isolated from West, Russia looks to Africa as land of opportunity
When Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed delegates from 49 African countries last month at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, he made a point to strongly remind them of the former Soviet Union’s staunch support for African anti-colonial movements in the last century.
At the same time, a military coup in the Sahel nation of Niger, supported by crowds waving Russian flags, was overthrowing yet another pro-Western African leader and attempting to curb France’s longtime influence in the region.
Russia has returned to Africa with serious geopolitical purpose after a long post-Cold War hiatus. Though these new foreign policy priorities appeared earlier and have global implications, the war in Ukraine has increased the sense of urgency for Moscow
