Russia-Africa Relations

 The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) posted on 14 May 2025 a one hour televised interview titled "Why Is Russia Deepening Its Engagement with Africa?" with Steven Gruzd, SAIIA.

Following intense engagement by the Soviet Union in Africa during the Cold War, Russian interest dropped dramatically in the 1990s and and only began to return in the 21st century under the rule of Vladimir Putin.  The Wagner Group is an example of the new interest.  Russia still has a small trade and economic footprint in Africa and provides very little foreign aid.  Egypt is its most important partner.  It has developed partnerships in the nuclear power field and and remains an important source of arms for Africa.  The African countries have very little contact with the former Soviet republics.   

China's Political Leadership School in Tanzania

 The Daily Maverick published on 13 November 2023 a commentary titled "Power above Rights - China's More Sinister Role in Africa" by Greg Mills and Ray Hartley, Brenthurst Foundation.  

China financed and built the $40 million Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania for the ruling political parties in Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.  These six political parties have ruled their countries continuously since independence and share an open disdain for their opponents.  They have stifled democratic threats to their rule and are banding together to preserve their political control.

The Communist Party of China's Political Leadership School in Tanzania

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 7 November 2023 a paper titled "China's First Political School in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.  

The Communist Party of China financed and has become part of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha, Tanzania. Other partners in the school are the ruling political parties in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.  All of these ruling parties have held power without interruption since independence, although they have held regular elections.  

This is the first political leadership school that the CPC has built overseas.  The six African political parties are focused on supporting each other to preserve their rule.  The CPC. which remains deeply involved with the training program, sees the school as an opportunity to advance China's interests and isolate its adversaries.  

Africa's Ukraine Dilemma

 Foreign Affairs posted on 5 September 2022 a commentary titled "Africa's Ukraine Dilemma: Why the Continent Is Caught Between Russia and the West" by Nanjala Nyabola, a Kenya-based political analyst.

Only a handful of African countries have taken a strong stance on Putin's war against Ukraine, and even those have focused primarily on denouncing aggression more broadly.  There is skepticism in African capitals about taking the Western side in a faraway war in Europe, a skepticism which is also rooted in a power imbalance between the West and African countries.  

There are also practical reasons for failing to take Ukraine's side such as Russian disinformation in Africa, significant Russian arms sales to African countries, Soviet support for earlier African liberation movements, and the current influence of Russian mercenaries in several African countries. The predominant African position is to avoid taking sides and to encourage peace and diplomacy.  

Chinese Military Engagement in Africa since 1950

 The Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College Press published in July 2022 an edited volume titled Enabling a More Externally Focused and Operational PLA that contains a chapter titled "'Only with Deep Roots Can a Tree Yield Rich Fruit': The People's Liberation Army in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.

The author explores the origins of the PLA's involvement in Africa in support of African liberation movements.  He looks at the tactics and tools of engagement, the thinking behind them, and case studies in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Algeria, and Egypt.

Vladimir Putin Trained African Freedom Fighters and Yes There Is a Tooth Fairy

 The BBC posted on 15 March 2022 a story titled "War in Ukraine: Why Vladimir Putin Couldn't Have Trained Fighters in Africa" by Peter Mwai.  

Social media is running a story that falsely claims Vladimir Putin in the early 1970s trained members of liberation movements in southern Africa.  The falsehood is being used by some, including the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, to justify why African countries should support Putin's war in Ukraine.  

Tanzanian President Inaugurates Chinese-funded Political Party School

 Tanzania's Daily News published on 23 February 2022 an article titled "Why Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School Matters--Samia" by Saudi Giliard.  

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School on 23 February.  China, with the involvement of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), funded the $45 million political school.  In addition to CCM, the ruling political parties from South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique will obtain training at the school.  

Comment:  The CPC is expected to play a key role in the training program.  

Transitioning African Liberation Movements to Governments

South Africa's Brenthurst Foundation commissioned Christopher Clapham, until recently editor of The Journal of Modern African Studies, to summarize the views presented at a dialogue held in Italy on the transition of African liberation movements to governments. Published in November 2012 and titled "From Liberation Movement to Government: Past Legacies and the Challenge of Transition in Africa," the analysis draws on the experience of numerous movements including those in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda and Uganda.

Clapham concluded that nowhere in Africa has a liberation movement transformed itself seamlessly into a national government. Governing a state presents numerous challenges that are not only different but, in some respects, clash with the principles behind a successful liberation struggle.

Click here to read the report.