The South African Journal of International Affairs latest issue published "Russia in Africa: Who Is Courting Whom?" by Steven Gruzd, Samuel Ramani, and Cayley Clifford.
This is an introductory essay to an excellent special issue of the journal, which focuses on Russia's relations with Africa. The authors argue that Russia is resurgent in Africa, but Moscow is more like a "virtual great power" than a genuine challenger to European, American, and Chinese influence.
The authors conclude that Russia is a neo-colonial power dressed in anti-colonial clothes. They do not definitively answer the question raised in the title of the issue except to say that "Moscow is wooing African elites to serve its interests; African states are trying to play off Moscow, Washington, Brussels and Beijing for maximum advantage."
