Global South Pole

Fading Western Hegemony: A New Era of Africa-Russia Military Ties

Amid the decline of Western influence in Africa, Russia, historically a partner of African nations since the Soviet era, is making a comeback after a period of setback and seeking to reestablish its presence in the region. On Global South Pole, experts share their insights with Sputnik Africa on the significance of this development.
Sputnik
The recent increase in military cooperation between Russia and African nations can be largely attributed to the high number of military and technical cooperation agreements signed between Moscow and African countries, according to Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, former defense attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow.
The retired official further explains that during his tenure in Moscow, he observed the signing of over 20 military agreements within five years, from which most African countries have benefited, especially in the sphere of military-technical cooperation.

"I think clearly that the aspect of military technical cooperation with Russia that most African countries have benefited from include the supply and even on many occasions donation of needed weapons, munitions, spares for aircraft and tanks, as well as training of personnel to operate and to maintain the various military equipment," he says.

Commenting on the nature of the revived relations between Russia and countries in Africa, Adesanya explains that their partnership is aimed at increasing trade, economic buoyancy, and "a multipolar world as opposed to a unipolar and bipolar world."

“Russia appears to be seeking support for its vision of a multipolar world as opposed to a unipolar and bipolar world. So, I will say that I am judging from the contents of military technical cooperation of Russia and some African countries. Russia's approach to military cooperation with African countries tends to be offering equal partnerships with African countries, as opposed to a seeming neocolonial relationship, which no sovereign country really wants,” the retired military official stresses.

Commenting on the interview given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in which he emphasized the need for a truly democratic world free from one-sided views, Dr. Tolit Charles Atiya, a lead research associate at Nkumba University's Security Studies and Analysis Centre, Uganda, explains that the "appetite" of African countries to join BRICS is justified because the approach to democracy preached by the EU and the US is no longer attractive to them.

“There have been challenges with the old order, if for lack of a better word, if you like me to say that, because there are a lot of unresolved issues in the WTO. There are a lot of unresolved issues within the UN Security Council or security architecture and I think many of these third-world countries, particularly the countries south of the Sahara, are beginning to seek new allies,” the researcher says.

To find out what our guests had to say, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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