Russia Challenges US in Africa

Eurasia Review published on 6 July 2017 a commentary titled "Forging US Response to Russian Soft Power and Gangster Capitalism in Africa--Analysis" by Gregory Alonso Pirio and Robert C. Pittelli, both at Africa Analytica.

The authors argue that Russian business interests appear to have engaged in what they call gangster capitalism in Africa such as the sale of arms in Nigeria's petroleum-rich Niger Delta. These arms helped fuel the sabotage of pipelines and oil theft, which drove the major Western oil companies out of the Niger Delta.