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Нгойе С.Т.
Аспирант. Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы.
Россия и Африка: сотрудничество с перспективой
Ngoye S.T.
Postgraduate Student. Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.
Russia and Africa: cooperation with a perspective
The Russian Federation inherited from the Soviet Union civilized and developed relations with African states. Russian-African cooperation over the past.
60 years has undergone various stages, an important one, which marked the beginning of the positive attitude of African states towards Russia (former USSR) - the signing of the "Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples" by initiative of the Soviet Union, which proclaimed the end of colonialism and related segregation, dictatorship of political actors, and discrimination on racial grounds.
Nevertheless, in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the struggle against the colonial legacy continued and is ongoing in a number of African countries. Moreover, Africa remains an object of geo-economic and geopolitical rivalry between former metropolises, with the participation of the United States, France, as well as the People's Republic of China and India. All this complicates the development of Russian-African relations. However, the established image of Russia as the liberator state of African countries from the colonial principle has been formed historically, which leads to a mutual search for points of cooperation.
Every year the African region is becoming more and more politically subjective, Africa is becoming an independent global player [1]. The interest in cooperation on the part of African states in the 21st century is related to the position of the Russian Federation on the multipolarity of the world, the primacy of international law, strengthening the central role of the United Nations (UN), peaceful dialogue in solving interstate problems
on the basis of respect for national sovereignty, the lack of interference in the internal process of government.
Moreover, for Africa, Russia is a reliable experienced partner in international cooperation in the following areas: investment in the intellectual capital of African states (without a "brain drain" from Africa), international capital flows, the transfer of experience and technology, the development of Africa's labor market through the expansion of Russian companies. At the same time, Russia's presence in Africa does not result in the need to make adjustments in the political course of the continent's countries [6].
In turn, the special attention of the Russian government to African countries is due to the prospects of development of Africa as a key actor in international trade in goods and investments, which has a significant position in the political arena; the search for new markets for products; diversification of foreign economic and political relations.
Thus, the relevance of cooperation between African states and Russia is obvious in view of the historical positions and similarity of views on the world order. However, the interest in Africa of other states, the imposition of sanctions and restrictions by them leads to a brake on the potential of international cooperation.
Russia's positions on cooperation with the states of the African continent are reflected in all editions of Russia's Foreign Policy Concept (from 2000 to 2016). However, there is currently no strategic program for Russia in Africa (and vice versa), reflecting significant changes in the relationship. Nevertheless, the Russia- Africa summit held in October 2019, which was attended by all 54 African states, created a good basis for the development of Russian-African relations. The summit resulted in a joint Declaration consisting of 47 points covering the following areas of cooperation: politics, security, economy, law, humanitarian cooperation and environmental protection [5, p. 72].
The focus on economic, political, and military-technical cooperation contributes to Russia's participation in humanitarian and social projects - health care, and epidemic prevention. Examples of World Bank Group trust funds financed by Russia include: education assistance in Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia under the READ program worth $32 million; financial literacy and education in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Namibia under the FLIT program worth $15 million; an independent fund to fight malaria in Africa worth 15 million rubles. A significant contribution of the Russian side was made in the fight against the Ebola virus in the areas of vaccine development, the formation of medical care
and quarantine measures [6].
One of the areas of cooperation in education is the signing of agreements and cooperation programs between universities in Africa and Russia on the exchange of teaching capital. Also a priority between the countries is an agreement on the equivalence of degrees obtained in Russia, which guarantees Africans employment and development in their country [2].
Russia's cooperation with African states on social and humanitarian issues forms the preconditions for political dialogue.
Within the framework of political cooperation between Russia and Africa, the parties are set on ensuring international stability and the world order, centralizing the role of the UN, eliminating international terrorism, infectious diseases, crime, the shadow trafficking of weapons and ammunition, etc. [6]. The prospect of such a dialogue acts as a backbone for Africa in a joint effort to ensure regional security on the continent.
The significant role of African countries in the international arena due to their numerical advantage in the UN (a quarter of all voters) is of great strategic importance, capable of forming a solidarity force for the restructuring of institutional processes, procedures of global governance in the changing global balance of power. This factor also contributes to strengthening the international positions of African friendly states.
In practice, we are talking about the promotion of Russia's interests with the support of African states. Thus, modern statistics show the solidarity of African decisions with the Russian votes by 70-80% during the sessions of the UN General Assembly [6]. The average proximity index
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3 Ukraine ■ Щ)
2 Afiica 0.6 2
1 Kazakhstan W 0,
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Fig. 1. Index of proximity to Russia [7].
■ African countries is 0.62, which indicates that the countries are close to
Russian interests (Figure 1).
The U.S. and Canada have an affinity index of 0.04 and 0.07, which indicates the opposite positions of these countries with regard to Russian interests, which reflects current political realities. The NATO, G7 and G20 countries share the same position. Thus, the prospect of political alliances between Russia and African countries corresponds to mutual interests in international decisions.
Interaction and coordination of efforts, interests of Russia and African countries on international platforms will allow to achieve the following prospects [5, 6]:
• the formation of the world order, the implementation of peacemaking;
• the development of justice and a multipolar world, while respecting the primacy of the UN and the Security Council, as well as the principles of international law;
• supporting the sustainable development of the African region and Russia in international markets;
• interaction between the parties in the field of countering challenges and threats to international and national security;
• overcoming global conflict in the continent;
• resistance to the demonstration of any kind of hegemony and unilateralism, as well as to interference by other countries in the internal affairs of states;
Resistance, in accordance with international norms and declarations, to those countries that actively try to disrupt the creation and development of alliances that have strategic raw material reserves.
The prospects for the development of political cooperation also contribute to the strengthening of relations in all international spheres. First of all, it is important to mention trade and export and investment relations, since Russia's interest in Africa as a market for goods, services and capital is extensive.
Every year, the number of domestic companies that are interested in entering the African market, or deepening capacity and integration in the export of goods is increasing. In some industries, Africa is interested in economic dialogue. These industries include: nuclear power, mining, infrastructure construction and metallurgy. In other sectors, there is resistance due to Russia's unilateral exports.
Nevertheless, large Russian companies have recently invested more than $5 billion in projects in Africa. Such companies as Alrosa, Norilsk
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Nickel, Rusal, Renova and others took part in joint investment projects in the continent. Oil and gas companies: Rosneft, Lukoil, Gazprom signed contracts worth about $ 3 billion for the development of oil fields in Egypt, Algeria, Angola and Nigeria. Also, the domestic company Rosatom and the Ministry of Electrification of Egypt signed an agreement on the development of the project for the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP). A similar investment project was also signed in Kenya [3, 4].
An important achievement of Russian-African cooperation was the increase in exports from Russia to Africa. Thus, the growth of exports to South Africa amounted to $347 billion in 2015. The growth in exports to South Africa in 2015 was $347 billion, which was 638.3% higher than in 2010. By 2020, there is a decrease in export potential by 16.14% (Table 1).
Table 1. Dynamics of exports from Russia to Africa, $ billion. [6, p. 21; 8]
Region 2010 г. 2015 г. 2020 г. Growth rate 2015/2010, % Growth rate 2020/2015, %
South Africa 47 347 291 638,30 -16,14
North Africa 4398 6809 10861 54,82 59,51
West Africa 201 735 1863 265,67 153,47
Central Africa 73 315 180 331,51 -42,86
East Africa 360 582 608 61,67 4,47
By 2020, exports to Central Africa fell by 42.86% to $180 billion, in contradiction to the Russian President's statement in Sochi that he wanted to increase trade relations with the region. Of course, the decline in trade is also due to the pandemic.
At the same time, the directions of North Africa, West Africa and East Africa have seen a steady growth in exports over the periods under analysis (59.51%, 153.47%, and 4.47%, respectively, in 2020 against 2015). It is important to note the limited market for military products in Africa, the export share of which is significant in the structure of trade turnover.
The prospects for bilateral trade cooperation also increase the mutual positive political currents between Russia and Africa, so unilateral exports to Africa may in the long run lead to a limited dialogue between African
■ states and Russia in the aspect of international political and geo-economic
cooperation [2].
Nevertheless, economic and trade cooperation opens up the following prospects for Russia and African countries, despite the existing limitations [5, 6]:
Development and deepening of trade relations and implementation of major inclusive project solutions through mutual barter, concession and credit instruments;
Legislative consolidation of preferences for the protection of joint projects, as well as the integration of economic cooperation in problematic issues, in particular fuel and raw materials, the diversification of investment partnership through the development of technological industries (military-technical, nuclear energy, satellite communications).
The anchoring and sustainable development of Russia in African regional integration associations as a base for African economic integration (Southern African Development Community - SADC, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - COMESA, Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS, Economic Community of Central African States - ECAC).
Thus, Russia's resolution of the most important issues in the humanitarian sphere, health care, education, the implementation of military-technical cooperation are crucial factors in creating an atmosphere of trust on the part of African states, which is necessary for the development of trade and economic cooperation on the continent, as well as interaction in political dialogue. As a result, both sides open up prospects for cooperation in all areas of the international arena, which contributes to the strengthening of Russia as a world power and African countries as promising geopolitical actors, without which it is already impossible to establish multipolarity in the international arena.
Библиографический список
1. Абрамова И.О., Фитуни Л.Л. Африканский сегмент многополярного мира: динамика геостратегического значения // Мировая экономика и международные отношения. 2018. Том. 62. № 12. С. 5-14.
2. Африка - Россия+: Достижения, проблемы, перспективы: Совместный доклад Российского совета по международным делам (РСМД) и Союза «Африканская бизнес-инициатива» (АДИ) Доклад № 53/2020 / А.В. Кортунов, Н.Г. Зейзер, Е.В. Харитонова, Г.А. Кочофа, Д.П. Ежов, Л.Е. Чкония; Российский совет по международным делам (РСМД). - Москва: Национальный исследовательский центр СМИ, 2020. 60 с.
3. Журба М.В., Кемене С.М. О перспективах сотрудничества России со странами Африки // Скиф. Задайте вопрос студенческой науке. 2018. № 6 (22). С. 128-133.
4. Ибатуллин А.Ф. Россия и Африка на рубеже XXI века. Российская Федерация: перспективы сотрудничества // Вестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Се-
11, _ 212
рия: История России. 2016. № 2. С. 66-72.
5. Высшая школа экономики. Африка: перспективы развития и рекомендации для политики России: отчет ситуационного анализа. - Москва: Международные отношения. 2021. 142 с.
6. Круглый стол Международного форума «Развитие парламентаризма». - Россия и Африканский Союз. Перспективы межпарламентского сотрудничества. С. 53-63. // URL: http://duma.gov.ru/media/files/FKtP4k8TsAJ2hNVsb91iX6vTFccvNYze.pdf
7. РИА // Как голосуют в ООН разные страны. // URL: https://ria.ru/20150915/1250437684. html
8. Ru-stat // Экспорт и импорт России по товарам и странам. // URL: https://ru-stat.com/ date-Y2018-2021/ru/export/world
References
1. Abramova I.O., Fituni L.L. The African Segment of the Multipolar World: Dynamics of Geostrategic Significance // World Economy and International Relations. 2018. Vol. 62. № 12. P. 5-14.
2. Africa - Russia+: Achievements, Problems, Prospects: Joint Report of the Russian Council on Foreign Affairs (RIAC) and the Union "African Business Initiative" (ADI) Report No. 53/2020 / A.V. Kortunov, N.G. Zeizer, E.V. Kharitonova, G.A. Kochofa, D.P. Ezhov, L.E. Chkonia; Russian Council on Foreign Affairs (RIAC). - Moscow: national research center for mass media, 2020. 60 p.
3. Zhurba M.V., Kemene S.M. On the prospects for cooperation between Russia and the countries of Africa // Skif. Voprosy student's science. 2018. № 6 (22). P. 128-133.
4. Ibatullin A.F. Russia and Africa at the Turn of the 21st Century. The Russian Federation: Prospects for Cooperation // Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: History of Russia. 2016. № 2. P. 66-72.
5. Higher School of Economics. Africa: Development Prospects and Recommendations for Russia's Policy: A Situation Analysis Report. - Moscow: International Relations. 2021. 142 p.
6. International Forum "Development of Parliamentarism" Roundtable. - Russia and the African Union. Prospects for inter-parliamentary cooperation. P. 53-63. // URL: http://duma. gov.ru/media/files/FKtP4k8TsAJ2hNVsb91iX6vTFccvNYze.pdf
7. RIA // How different countries vote at the UN. // URL: https://ria.ru/20150915/1250437684. html
8. Ru-stat // Export and import of Russia by goods and countries. // URL: https://ru-stat.com/ date-Y2018-2021/ru/export/world
