editor’s Note: Joyce M DavisFor Outreach and Opinion Editor penlive and is president and CEO of The Patriot-News, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is an experienced journalist and writer who has worked around the world and for National Public Radio in Washington, DC, Knight Ridder newspapers and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague. The views expressed here are his own. Read more Opinion on CNN.
CNN
,
Russia looks to outdo the United States in Africa. In recent days, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underscored that reality while wining and eating through a tour of four African capitals.
As much as President Joe Biden wants African countries to join the Western coalition in isolating Russia over Russia’s brutality in Ukraine, Russia has been making a show of strengthening ties with some of the more powerful players on the continent.
Instead of being treated like a global pariah, as the US desired, the leaders of South Africa, Eritrea, Angola and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) treated Lavrov as a cherished friend during his visit.
In South Africa, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor congratulated Lavrov open arms. At the meeting in Pretoria last Monday, he did not use it to reiterate the demand for Russia to stop killing Ukrainians. And he dismissed the criticism saying that “simple and childish” to do this.
To make matters worse, Pandora also announced that South Africa would soon be operating joint naval exercise with russia and chinacalling it “exercise with friends, We And Europe were not happy.
But South Africa has historically strong ties to Russia, dating back to the days of apartheid when the Soviet Union stood by the then-banned ANC when it needed support most. It is possible that Lavrov may have reminded the people of South Africa of that history during his visit.
Now the West is faced with the fact that a good section of Africa considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a friend – or at the very least, strategically important enough to favor.
South Africa was one of 17 African countries that did not vote against condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine United Nations in March Eight others did not vote.
It was shy of a significant – though the majority – part of the continent. In all, 28 African countries – including Nigeria and Egypt – voted to condemn Russia.
Eritrea was one of only four countries globally – the others being Belarus, North Korea and Syria – to openly supported russiawhich has a history of military cooperation with these decidedly undemocratic, authoritarian regimes.
It’s easy to understand why. Putin sends weapons promote totalitarian rule, he sends mercenaries to fight Islamic insurgents, And they don’t care an iota about democracy, corruption or human rights.
Putin doesn’t care Amnesty International says Eswatini’s government has launched a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the country.
They don’t care that Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has been unelected since 1993 and that Human Rights Watch says The country has no legislature, no independent civil society organizations, and no independent judiciary.
Putin doesn’t care Human Rights Watch World Report 2022 says Eritrean forces have carried out mass genocide, summary executions and widespread sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery.
he doesn’t even care Human Rights Watch says Mali’s government security forces are responsible for extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions of suspected armed combatants.
Putin is not only deepening military ties with these governments, but he is a main figure behind the Wagner Group helping to carry out their brutality. (an allegation the Kremlin denies).
Russia’s private military group is promoting authoritarian rule across Africaincluding Gardner, Sudan, Central African Republic, Mozambique And Libya, And human rights organizations say Wagner is guilty of its own atrocities on the continent.
There are many reports of Russian mercenaries Massacre of miners in the Central African Republic To plunder the gold of the region.
None of these horrors matter to Putin. They have none of the constraints that Western democracies are expected to respect in international relations. He is ready to deal with whoever is in power and help them stay there, as long as they remain his friends.
Putin can be any ruthless dictator’s best friend. But their lack presents a major problem for US efforts to oust Russia and strengthen its own ties in Africa.
And Putin’s influence in Africa has had a dramatic impact on the world stage at a time of crisis when the US demanded a unified condemnation of the Ukraine invasion. Just watch Voting in the United Nations.
True, the US has also been guilty of promoting authoritarian regimes and condoning human rights abuses. let’s not forget american tyranny Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere in Africa.
But democracies can and do hold their leaders accountable. Western democracies are believed to care about human rights and the rule of law. Putin just doesn’t do it. And no one holds him accountable for anything.
Despite the constraints of international law and respect for democracy, the US has some powerful tools to help counter Russian influence in Africa: chief among them – money.
President Biden’s pledge $55 billion Economic, health and security aid over three years has helped counter not only Russia but also China’s influence.
Also in Africa last week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin used her visit to promise even more funding. She announced US plans to expand partnership with Africa on conservation, climate change and access to clean energy. and he said that the United States would provide $1 billion To support African-led efforts to combat climate change.
It is difficult for Russia to do this. International sanctions and its war in Ukraine will cripple Putin financially for some time.
And as Russia focuses its efforts on controlling Africa’s autocracies, the US would do well to focus on the African people, especially its youth. As he assumes the seat of power, there are indications that the youth want a more responsible and accountable government.
According to 2022 African Youth Survey74% of young Africans say democracy is better than any other form of government, even if they don’t want to be a carbon copy of the West.
So, while Putin thinks he is outmaneuvering the West, he may find himself alienating the youth of Africa.
Unlike Pandor, the hope is that these emerging leaders will see Russia not as a friend, but in fact – as an obstacle to stability, democracy and African prosperity.