The structural reasons for Russia’s limited influence in Africa mostly devolve from comparing its presence and activities with those of China. While Russia may have inherited a slightly deeper reservoir of historical goodwill than did China - the Soviet Union was an earlier and more active supporter of African anti-colonial movements than was the People’s Republic of China - China has more than made up for this through its contemporary role on the continent. Beijing’s large, broad-based, institutionalized presence in Africa, which encompasses the diplomatic, security, and economic spheres, is seen as a generally positive force among African publics. China has the highest favorability rating of major powers among African publics, with 60% of those surveyed approving of its role, and only 19% disapproving. Russia, by comparison, has the lowest favorability rating, with only 36% assessing its role as positive. Aside from the aforementioned Russian crimes against civilians and support for elites at the expense of African populations, there are two main reasons for this difference. First is the size of China’s presence in Africa, which dwarfs Russia’s by any measure. China has embassies in all 54 African countries, while Russia is present in only 39 of them. Chinese aid, trade and investment are orders of magnitude greater than those of Russia: Beijing’s “China has the highest favorability rating of major powers among African publics… Russia, by comparison, has the lowest favorability rating.” trade with the continent in 2024 totalled $295 billion to only $24.5 billion for Russia. The next reason is that Chinese aid focuses on tangible projects that meet the needs of ordinary Africans. As one African scholar puts it, China invests in physical infrastructure projects and finishes them quickly, both of which people like. What resentment there is over Chinese activities in Africa often stems from its labor practices, which have historically favored bringing in Chinese workers for infrastructure projects rather than hiring Africans. Where Chinese firms do hire Africans, they have been accused of subjecting them to substandard working conditions and of violating labor laws. [23] In a direct comparison of Russian and Chinese influence in Africa, the latter is clearly superior. Russia’s reservoir of historical goodwill has proven no match for its present day activities, which often end up hurting ordinary Africans far more than they help them. And it has proven no match for China’s activities, which despite shortcomings are generally seen in a positive light. In fact, one African scholar noted that Russia is so far behind China in Africa that it risks not being taken seriously. For a government and people obsessed with being acknowledged as a great power, this may be the ultimate insult. [24] [20] [21] [22]
// RUSSIA AND CHINA IN AFRICA Delphi Global Research Center
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