Russia's Diplomatic, Economic and Military Engagement in Africa

 The European Parliament published in February 2024 a briefing titled "Russia in Africa: An Atlas" by Anna Caprile and Eric Pichon.  

Russia's engagement in Africa seeks to break the diplomatic and economic isolation imposed by the West, to reassert its own relevance on the international stage as the champion of the new polycentric world, and to advance its geostrategic ambitions in mining, energy, and military presence in key areas such as the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.  Russia has concluded military cooperation agreements with 43 African countries, and is a major, though declining, arms supplier to Africa.

Russia and the Maghreb

 Eurasia Review published on 11 February 2022 an interview titled "Russia-Maghreb: What Future?" Kester Kenn Klomegah interviewed Chtatou Mohamed, International University of Rabat.

Mohamed concluded that the Maghreb is not a fundamental interest for Russia, but rather a source of economic and political opportunities.  For their part, countries in the Maghreb are willing to take advantage of opportunities offered by Russia while remaining politically unaligned.  There may be an emerging Russia-China alliance in the region.  

China-Mediterranean Website

The China-Mediterranean website contains useful information pertaining to China's relations with a number of countries in the northern part of Africa. It includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti.

Red Sea: Connecter and Divider

The German Institute for International and Security Affairs published in November 2017 a paper titled "Red Sea: Connecter and Divider Disruption Waves from the Arabian Gulf to the Horn of Africa" by Annette Weber.

The Red Sea connects the Horn of Africa with the Gulf States, although it also separates African and Arab political and social cultures. In order to avoid further rifts between the Horn of Africa countries as a consequence of the disruptive politics of the Gulf, the Horn needs to perceive itself as a region and find common interests rather than becoming fragmented and weakened.

China and Developments in North Africa

The ChinaMed Observer recently summarized press reports from several countries in North and Northeast Africa concerning relations with China. They included future gas exports from Ethiopia via Djibouti to China. They also dealt with China-Egypt and Algeria-Egypt relations.