African countries emerged from the second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg with a mix of benefits. For vulnerable nations like Somalia, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Mali, and the Central African Republic, they can expect 50,000 tonnes of free grain soon.
In a significant move, Russia declared its forgiveness of more than $20 billion worth of debt owed by African countries. This debt relief includes countries such as Ethiopia ($5.7 billion), Libya ($4.5 billion), Angola ($3.5 billion), and Somalia ($684 million).
During the summit, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, representing his country, engaged in fruitful discussions with senior executives from four Russian companies, exploring potential trade and business opportunities.
Majaliwa emphasized that Tanzania is banking on the fast-growing regional markets shared with neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. To meet the rising demand of over 800,000 tonnes of fertilizers per year, Tanzania seeks to establish fertilizer factories with the help of Russian companies, as the country can currently only meet 200,000 tonnes of that demand.
Russia’s post-summit announcement highlighted its objective to boost trade with Africa, especially in light of Western sanctions.
“We are planning to build up our trade in quality and quantity and improve its pattern. We are also going to gradually switch to national currencies, including the ruble, in making financial payments on commercial deals,” Russian leader Vladmir Putin told a press conference in St Petersburg.
“We will be removing trade barriers by aligning integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union and the African Union and its free trade area. We intend to increase exports to Africa of Russian industrial products that have earned a good reputation on the continent, including machinery, automobiles, equipment, chemicals and fertilisers.”
Neocolonialism
Putin used the occasion to trumpet what he called a fight against neocolonialism and unilateralism in international order.
Comorian President and chair of the African Union Azali Assoumani was more diplomatic, indicating that Africa is banking on mutual victories in the fight for global justice.
“If Russia wins, Africa wins,” Assoumani said.
The St Petersburg Declaration, the common document agreed between the two sides, said they had agreed to “work together to counter manifestations of neo-colonial policies that aim to undermine the sovereignty of states, deprive them of the freedom to make their own decisions, and plunder their natural resources.”
Despite the fact that there were less participants than in 2019 (17 heads of state and government showed up), many believe the time of the summit was favorable for Russia to demonstrate its significance on the international scene.
“Unlike the West, Russia is the only power appearing to give solutions to food challenges in Africa, and it has coincided with a coup crisis in Africa, putting Russia at the centre of global security governance,” said Dr Nasong’o Muliro, a foreign policy and security specialist at the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy in Nairobi.
“The summit may have appeared low-key, but it was timely in improving global perceptions about Russia,” said Dr Nasong’o Muliro, a foreign policy and security specialist at the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy in Nairobi.
They will also “oppose the application of illegitimate unilateral restrictive measures, including secondary ones, as well as the practice of freezing sovereign foreign exchange reserves. Reaffirm the unacceptability of using political blackmail to bring leaders of third countries to implement such measures or influence the political and economic policies of states.”
African countries, however, will not be getting free lunch. In 2019, the Summit decided that Russia will invest $40 billion over five years. This year, Russia promised specialised programmes for healthcare, including the 1.2 billion rubles ($130 million) to prepare African countries to fight new infections. It runs until 2026.
But, as in the past, Russia won over African countries to side with it in fighting the “injustices’ in the world, including what it called unfair sanctions by the West.