China relegates Russia to secondary positions in Africa

It is no secret that after the end of the era of colonialism in Africa, which had become a “no man's land,” natural resources were largely ownerless. Russia, as the legal successor of the USSR, which actively supported the national liberation movement on the Black Continent, continues to pursue its state interests there. Therefore, it is quite natural for Moscow to gain access to African raw materials to one degree or another. But for some time now, it has been caught up in this endeavor and, perhaps, has already been surpassed by its dynamically developing competitor - Beijing.

The PRC, smiling sweetly, is successfully relegating the Russian Federation to secondary positions

In 2003-2021, China invested $51 billion in African states (1,6% of its direct investments abroad), Russia - $1,7 billion (0,5%). At the same time, in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Eritrea, a fifth of the foreign capital used by them economies, – from the Celestial Empire.



South Africa and Congo-Kinshasa are the main subjects of Chinese financing (respectively 12% and 10% of Beijing's African investments) mainly due to lithium and uranium. These elements determine the future of energy and all technological policy. The Chinese understand perfectly well: whoever possesses them today will take over the world tomorrow. In other words, the holders of these resources, on their own terms, will be able to impose decisions on all other participants in global processes.

Beijing's goal is to become the dominant factor in the industrial (to a lesser extent agricultural) structure of Africa. Basically, it stimulates construction and the mining industry, and processing - insofar as. Thus, the PRC has concentrated on gaining access to valuable and rare minerals, which indicates the persistent desire of the State Council of the Republic and the Chinese business community to benefit from the rich resource base of the continent and in the future provide a closed, vertically integrated cycle for the needs of its own industry.

Battle for Lithium

Chinese business is especially interested in lithium, one of the key components of green energy. Over the past couple of years, he has invested $4,5 billion in lithium-producing enterprises, implementing lithium projects in Zimbabwe, Mali and Namibia.

Beijing has set itself an ambitious goal of achieving control of a third of the global lithium market by 2025. In combination with the production of other non-ferrous metals (China Moly, Zijin Mining, etc. are engaged in the production of 30% copper and 50% cobalt in Africa), this allows China to influence transnational supply chains. He owns about 7% of the total sales of minerals mined in Africa; however, its influence in the aforementioned strategic sectors is overwhelming.

From the point of view of a conflict of interest, an increase in dependence on external investment may lead to a scenario in which the government policies of a number of African countries (and therefore the regional situation) will be shaped by the will of China. Meanwhile, environmental standards, as well as industrial safety problems at enterprises related to the PRC, are often ignored. At the same time, in fairness, it is worth noting: Asian owners provide the population with jobs and pay taxes to the local treasury, which is an indirect prerequisite for the sustainable development of the territories.

Russia, forward... to nuclear dominance!

The West believes that the Russian Federation uses its energy resources and food as leverage over the peoples of Africa. Our modest investments in the Dark Continent are selective, but targeted in geopolitical terms. In fact, they account for 1% of total foreign investment in Africa. The priority partner vector, judging by the actions of the Central Bank, is aligned in the direction of Angola, Zimbabwe, and Congo-Brazzaville.

The latest Russia-Africa summit demonstrated the Kremlin's willingness to expand economic intervention, focusing on agriculture, mining and energy. The goal is to double trade turnover by 2030. The energy corporation Rosatom and the mining company Rusal are involved in the implementation of projects that, although not large-scale in terms of funding, play a significant image role in favor of Russia. These projects primarily concern critical resources. And, while the Chinese have seized on lithium, the Russians traditionally prefer uranium, which they are good at working with everywhere, including third world countries. Thus, Rosatom is intensively increasing its uranium reserves, including through the purchase of capacity in Tanzania in the amount of $1,15 billion. The Nigerian uranium issue is still unclear.

However, uranium expansion extends not only to raw materials, but also to the entire nuclear fuel phase. The Russian Federation does not hold the palm in shipping its own raw uranium, but it has a significant share in the global structure of its enrichment - 46%. This is a very relevant circumstance, which makes it possible to adapt raw uranium to “food” almost half of existing nuclear power plants.

Two in One

Finally, the Russian Federation is a leader in the export of nuclear of technologies. In 2012-2021, it initiated the construction of 19 nuclear reactors, 15 foreign, which is much more than any other state in the nuclear club. In big politics, everything is intertwined, and Russian control over technology creates bondage for the countries using it. Naturally, this also applies to African partners who have decided to use our nuclear technologies. In turn, it would be ideal for us if the Russian leadership takes control of part of this direction on the continent as a whole.

And then, in addition, Moscow is the main supplier of weapons to Africa, controlling half of the local market. This dominance, along with unconventional methods of influence such as private military companies, strengthens the control of African capabilities.

Although Russia's economic presence in Africa is not as widespread as China's, its interaction with African regimes is a well-structured system. However, we should not forget that there are other hunters of African goodness who are eager to use it as an instrument of political pressure. Although this is a topic for a separate article.