This development unfolds as Moscow endeavors to establish a stronger geopolitical footing on the African continent, in the face of a substantial deterioration in relations between Africa and Western powers.
As seen on Bloomberg, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, relayed that Russian diplomats who have been expelled from Europe on suspicion of spying concerning the Russian-Ukrainian war have been redirected to Africa.
“We have drastically reduced our presence in Europe and the UK by about 120-150 employees,” the Russian foreign minister disclosed to Russian lawmakers on Wednesday.’
“And 90% of these redundant employees have been redeployed to African destinations, where we’re reopening about a dozen embassies in total.”
Since early 2022, hundreds of Russian diplomats have been labeled persona non grata in Western countries, notably during the first year of the conflict, as tensions over espionage charges and other diplomatic issues rose.
According to estimates by the state-run Tass news service, more than 500 Russian diplomats were expelled from Europe alone in that period, forcing Moscow to reassign its foreign service personnel.
With these diplomatic developments in place, Africa provides an opportunity for the Kremlin to strengthen state-to-state ties and project influence in ways that combine traditional diplomacy with strategic alliances in energy, security, and infrastructure.
Growing ties between Russia and some African countries
The Kremlin’s rediscovery of Africa is being pushed on several fronts. These measures are part of a larger effort to develop a stronger Russian foreign policy presence in Africa.
For the past few years, Moscow has created and or expanded diplomatic relations with countries on the continent, particularly in the Sahel region, where there is growing anti-West sentiment.
Moscow has expanded military and security cooperation with the governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
These partnerships have included senior-level defense conversations and, in some circumstances, the deployment of military instructors and equipment under official contracts.
Russia’s commitment to Africa extends beyond diplomacy and security.
In recent years, the government has been actively pursuing economic and energy agreements, notably in the nuclear industry.
Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear organization, has been at the forefront, signing or advancing cooperation agreements with several African nations on civil nuclear power and related infrastructure.
Russia’s shift to Africa is part of a long-term effort to broaden its global alliances and promote its geopolitical goals beyond Europe. However, the picture on the ground is complicated.
Some African leaders see collaboration with Moscow as a counterbalance to Western dominance, while others are wary of becoming unduly reliant on any one external force.
