Russia in Africa WEB
Metadata
- Russia in Africa WEB
- February 21, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE Playbook slug: TV Russia in Africa - Guensburg Headline: Russia Strengthening Its Africa Connections Teaser: Western powers raise concerns about Moscow’s tactics and goals Date: Published at: 2/21/2022 at 9:40 Byline: Carol Guensburg Contributor: Danila, Joad Dateline: Videographer: Betty Ayoub Producer: Carol Guensburg Script editors: KE(1st), MAS Video source(s): AFP, Reuters, Skype, see courtesies Platform(s): Web__ TV__X_ Radio___ TRT: 4:58 Vid approved by: MAS Type: TVPKG Editor notes: )) \ ((INTRO)) [[ While the ongoing situation in Ukraine is the world focus, Russia has been rebuilding ties with Africa more quietly, strengthening economic and military cooperation on the continent. That is raising Western concerns about its tactics and goals there, as VOA’s Carol Guensburg reports.]] ((NARRATOR)) Russian flags waved in Burkina Faso’s capital following January’s military coup in the West African nation. ((credit: TELEGRAM@vorposte)) A statue unveiled in the Central African Republic last fall shows local soldiers backed by Russian fighters, protecting civilians. Those are the more obvious symbols of Russia’s resurgent presence on the continent. In 2019, at the first Russian-Africa summit of political and business leaders Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear Africa is a Russian priority. ((Vladimir Putin, Russian President)) “It was agreed at the summit to create a new mechanism for dialogue in the form of a Russia-Africa partnership.” ((NARRATOR)) A second summit is planned for St. Petersburg in October. The first one, in Sochi, generated diplomatic agreements and billions of dollars’ worth of deals for arms, agriculture, energy and more, said organizer Roscongress Foundation. Moscow’s overtures in recent years offer cooperation without what Putin has called the “political or other considerations” imposed by Western countries. (Maxim Matusevich, Seton Hall University) ((credit: Skype)) “Russia provides, as did the Soviet Union before, an alternative vision for African nations. And if there is one common feature between what the Russians are doing now and what the Soviets used to do, it's this common anti-Western critique.” ((NARRATOR)) The spread of militant Islamist extremism and other violence in Africa has created more openings for Russia’s military. In Mali, so has the planned drawdown of troops by France, Mali’s former colonial ruler and partner in the fight against jihadists for nearly a decade. Private military contractors also are helping advance Moscow’s agendas in Africa, Western observers say. ((credit: CSIS)) These include fighters in the shadowy Wagner Group allegedly controlled by Putin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin. Putin has denied any connection with the group. ((Vladimir Putin, Russian President)) (male, Russian, 6 sec) "It is not the state. … It is private business with private interests tied to extracting energy resources, including various resources like gold or precious stones." ((NARRATOR)) But experts say whatever the goal, the result is that where the Wagner groups shows up troubles follow. ((Joseph Siegle, Africa Center for Strategic Studies)) ((credit: Skype)) “Every place we’ve seen Wagner deployed around the world and in Africa – be it Libya, Sudan, Mozambique, Central African Republic – it has been a destabilizing force.” ((Narrator)) Joseph Siegle – with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies… says mercenaries are part of Moscow’s tool kit to prop up weak African leaders in exchange for economic or other advantages. They aid elites, not average citizens. ((Joseph Siegle, Africa Center for Strategic Studies)) ((credit: Skype)) “What Russia has been doing has been deploying mercenaries, disinformation, election interference, arms-for-resources deals, opaque contracts.” ((NARRATOR)) The United Nations is investigating reports of “grave” human rights abuses in the Central African Republic, allegedly committed by private military personnel. In Mali, the leaders of a 2020 military coup have brought in Russian military trainers – and what U.S. and French authorities say are Wagner mercenaries. Some in Mali welcomed them by waving Russian flags, reflecting not only the country’s historic ties with the former USSR but also public impatience over continued insecurity. ((Niagale Bagayoko, African Security Sector Network Chair)) ((credit: Skype)) “In 2013, the whole Malian population [was] enthusiastic when the French arrived in the country. And you can see today…they are rejecting their presence. … To be honest, I would not be very surprised if, in two years or so, the same could happen with the Russian presence.” ((Narrator)) Niagale Bagayoko, who chairs the African Security Sector Network, says African countries are showing a willingness to look beyond a single foreign partner. ((Niagale Bagayoko, African Security Sector Network Chair)) ((credit: Skype)) “There is the realization of the fact that being only engaged with single actors or with a single group of countries is restricting the possibility for diplomacy, but also for military apparatus.” ((NARRATOR)) Russia isn’t the only foreign government trying to broaden influence in Africa, home to vast resources and a surging young population. The White House plans a second U.S.-Africa summit later this year. And the European Union has announced a new $172 million investment in infrastructure, to counter China’s Belt and Road initiative. China has been Africa’s biggest economic partner for at least a decade. ((Carol Guensburg VOA News, Washington))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 21, 2022 09:00 EST
- Byline Carol Guensburg
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English