3. Africa and Russia: The Pursuit of Strengthened Relations in the Post-Cold War Era

Chapter 3 demystifies Russia’s engagement with the continent, an engagement that dates back to Russia’s support for national liberation struggles in countries such as Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The Soviet Union was also the provider and supplier of military equipment during these liberation struggles. The Soviet Union/Russia has always traded with African countries in the form of arms deals and other military equipment. The chapter further discusses the intrinsic nature of real neglect by the Soviets at the end of the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union, with Russia being unable to continue its engagement with the continent because of its weakened economy with very little meaning for future engagements with the continent.