By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW | 4 September 2025 (WorldView) — With geopolitical changes, Russia’s diplomacy without investment in Africa’s economy is not sustainable. As the sound of drums and dance fades, African leaders, for instance, will sign labour export agreements, reminiscent of the slave trade era, with Europe and the United States.

Western and European financial institutions still dominate across the continent. Russia has raised its influence, but mainly through rhetoric. Political dialogue is excellent, soft power is on the rise, but the concrete economic impact remains weak.

Symbolism Versus Substance

Russia continues to remind Africa of its Soviet-era solidarity, but Africans need more than handouts or speeches. They want production partnerships, technology transfer and investments in manufacturing and employment. Persistent anti-Western posturing has become an obstacle to economic growth.

Moscow’s summits and conferences often end with joint declarations and pledges. Yet many agreements remain unfulfilled, and some projects eventually go to Western or Asian partners. African governments have been patient, but they increasingly look elsewhere for tangible results.

Pitfalls in Moscow’s Approach

A 150-page report, led by Sergei Karaganov, highlighted the gaps: inconsistent follow-up, a lack of coordination among Russian institutions, and weak communication. There is still no public strategy for Africa, nor the financing mechanisms that competitors like China or India provide.

Russia must articulate an agenda that Africans recognise as their own: sovereignty, integration, infrastructure, health, education and food security. An Action Plan for 2023–2026 exists, but it needs financing and political will. As Vsevolod Tkachenko of the Foreign Ministry noted, African partners expect “concrete deeds, maximum substantive ideas and useful proposals.”

Expert and Diplomatic Perspectives

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has himself admitted that, while political ties are developing dynamically, economic cooperation lags far behind. Academics such as Professor Gerrit Olivier of Pretoria University argue that diplomacy dominates, with outcomes hardly discernible.

Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to Moscow, Nicholas Mike Sango, stresses that while Russia enjoys goodwill, it has not responded as Africa expected, especially compared with China, India or South Korea. Despite this, African leaders still value Russia’s political support and absence of a colonial past.

Opportunities in Regional and Continental Frameworks

Southern Africa illustrates both the gaps and the possibilities. Former SADC head Lawrence Stergomena noted Russia’s limited visibility compared to China, India or Brazil, even though the region welcomes global investors.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents Russia with an entry point to a market of 1.4 billion people. Professor Babafemi A. Badejo argues that linking Russian engagement to AfCFTA could boost relevance, especially if African media can highlight Russian corporate contributions to development goals.

Russia still has not committed significant funds to Africa. Its banks have pulled out, and no investment mechanisms exist. Meanwhile, China, Japan, India, the United States and the EU have pledged billions for infrastructure and development. Without similar commitments, Russia’s summits risk becoming symbolic exercises with little follow-through.

From Rhetoric to Results

Russia’s retreat from Africa is not solely due to Western sanctions. It reflects deeper issues: bureaucratic inertia, lack of business strategy, and failure to use its strongest assets—including the thousands of African graduates trained in Russia.

If Russia truly wants to be a partner in Africa’s future, it must transform political capital into tangible economic cooperation. Africa is pragmatic: it will work with those who build factories, schools and power plants. For Moscow, the choice is stark. Either invest and deliver—or risk watching its influence erode as others step in.

*Kester Kenn Klomegah has diverse work experience in the field of policy research and business consultancy. His work focuses on geopolitical dynamics, foreign policy, and economic development in Africa’s relations with major global powers. Most of his well-researched articles are reprinted in several reputable foreign media outlets. (WorldView)

Image: Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg on 28 July 2023. Source: Kremlin.ru