Russian President Vladimir Putin is desperately trying to work closer with some African countries as the West’s sanctions over the Ukraine invasion continue to take their toll.
Following the recent Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans for closer economic collaboration with several North African nations, Al-Monitor reports.
Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are currently working with Russia to establish a free trade area linked to the Eurasian Economic Union, a bloc that includes countries like Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Although Russia’s trade with African nations remains modest, with a 2022 trade value of $18 billion compared to China’s $282 billion, there is potential for growth.
One notable example is Russia’s increasing trade with Morocco. Bilateral trade between the two countries surged by 42 percent from 2020 to 2021, reaching $1.6 billion, and has continued to rise by 25 percent since 2021, according to Morocco’s Foreign Ministry.
Russia’s exports to Morocco encompass chemicals, technology, metals, hydrocarbons, and related products like ammonia and potash used in fertilisers. Conversely, Morocco mainly exports fruits and vegetables, along with fish, to Russia.
The ongoing Ukraine conflict and subsequent sanctions by the European Union and other nations have motivated Russia to desperately seek alternative economic avenues. Amid this backdrop, Morocco has been importing discounted diesel from Russia, seeing a significant increase from 66,000 tons in 2021 to 735,000 tons in 2022, Spanish outlet Atlayar reports.
Intissar Fakir, an expert on the Middle East Institute’s North Africa and Sahel program, points out that the North African nations have their reasons to foster closer ties with Russia. For instance, Morocco’s reliance on coal for electricity generation has led to coal imports from Russia, which remain unaffected by the sanctions.
She told Al-Monitor: “Morocco imports a lot of coal from Russia and Morocco still relies significantly on coal for electricity generation. They’ve managed to maintain those imports because that’s excluded from the sanctions regime.”
Russia’s engagement in Africa predates the Ukraine conflict, driven by its recognition of the continent’s economic potential. The presence of the Wagner Group, a multifaceted entity with mercenary and business operations, exemplifies Russia’s strategy. Long-standing relationships with countries like Algeria and involvement in post-Gadhafi Libya contribute to Russia’s regional influence.
Fakir underscored that achieving increased economic integration and trade within North African economies would be a significant geopolitical achievement for Russia. This effort aligns with Moscow’s ambitions to expand its influence across the region.
She added: “Purely from a geopolitical perspective, if Russia manages to do that, then that’s a huge bit of influence that they can achieve in North Africa.”
