Russia is Supporting Local Dictators – Not The Popular Masses
Alex Batubo
Russia has achieved a major coup in West Africa. It is now providing direct support to several military juntas in countries that were former French colonies. However, this change has not had any positive impact on the lives of the common people. These are still blighted by poverty, inequality and corruption.
In Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, and most recently in Niger, the Russians are now providing personal security for the local military dictators. They are also providing public relations and social media support. This is being partly paid for through concessions for prospecting for gold and other minerals.
Russian mercenaries including ex-convicts have won limited victories against the Islamic rebels with unrestrained violence. In a 2023 a UN report described the “climate of terror and impunity” surrounding the Russian mercenaries’ work in Mali. The most notorious example was the March 2022 massacre of more than 500 people in the village of Moura in central Mali. This included some women and children.
The Russian forces were originally run by the Wagner Group (named after Hitler’s favourite composer). The military now fall under the Africa Corp (named after a military unit under Hitler) while the propaganda is run by Africa Initiative. They are still independent, but now more closely linked to the Russian state. This Russian involvement is not for the benefit of the local people, but for mutual support at the UN and laundering Russian money to evade western sanctions.
Moscow is now the leading arms seller in Africa with 40% of the market and military agreements with most Africa countries. In contrast, the US has much less than half this level. But Russia has a much smaller economy so its trade with Africa is only a 20th of that of Europe or China. Russia only provides 1% of foreign capital to Africa.
Socialists want to improve the lives of the majority of the people in any country. We want extended democracy and reduced inequality. So moving support for military dictators from one imperialist power to another is not to be applauded. But these developments do show that African governments have far more power and freedom of action than many people expected.
There is no military solution to insecurity. It will only reduce if poverty and inequality are significantly reduced. None of the military juntas have done this, so insecurity is now worse.
