The US and Russia are trying to increase their influence on the continent, one reason being that Africa could soon have two seats on the Security Council.
The port of Dakar is where Russian oil lands. Photo: John Wessels/AFP
Kampala Taz | Currently, chartered vessels are regularly docking in the Senegalese capital Dakar port to unload huge quantities of oil. According to the online magazine, 17 such cargo ships have already imported 4 million barrels of oil to Senegal this year. African Intelligence. This amounts to about 20,000 barrels per day, or one-third of Senegal’s total consumption.
The oil is produced and refined in Russia. However, it is shipped through Demex Trading Ltd., a quasi-Russian company registered in Dubai and headquartered in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free trade zone. According to information from Demex, last year African Intelligence Dozens of charter ships carrying Russian oil were sent to West Africa. Dumping prices were paid at prices well below market value, usually in gold rather than the West African regional currency, the CFA.
Demex has also supplied similar amounts of oil to other West African countries in recent months, including Mali and Burkina Faso, where pro-Russian military regimes have seized power, as well as Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana, which remain pro-Western.
These cheap oil supplies are part of Moscow’s larger strategy to further expand Russia’s sphere of influence on the African continent, and not just in a military sense, as has been the case with the Russian private mercenary company Wagner. Last year, the Russian government developed a plan called the “African Initiative” to bring African countries closer together economically with Russia.
Russia donates $100 million to Ugandan military
Against the backdrop of international economic and financial sanctions against Russia triggered by the war in Ukraine, Africa has become a popular market for Russian products. This was also evident at the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual economic summit held in Vladivostok, Russia’s easternmost city, in early September. Until now, the focus of the conference has been trade with Asia. However, this year, many African representatives were also among the guests. Now, the Russian-African Chamber of Commerce has been officially established to further expand economic relations with Africa.
Last year, the Russian government developed a plan to bring African countries closer together economically, called the “African Initiative.”
The news channel of the Telegram portal “Africa Initiative” now announces new agreements between Moscow and African countries almost every day. Direct charter flights between Russia and Tanzania are planned to begin at the end of the year. Another success story: Russia recently donated $ 100 million to the Ugandan army for modernization purposes.
US donates military equipment to pro-Western countries
At the same time, the West is now responding with a similar charm offensive. The US military announced it would donate $20 million worth of military equipment stationed in Africa to the militaries of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Ghana after the US military was expelled from Niger following a coup by pro-Russian General Abdurahamane Chaini in March.
U.S. Africacom commander Michael Langley is currently looking for a new location for his operations center on the continent and is considering Côte d’Ivoire or Benin, he said recently. The U.S. signed a defense agreement with Kenya in September 2023 and is continuing to expand economic ties.
The race to Africa is in full swing. The reason for this competition on the continent reminiscent of the Cold War is the idea of reforming the UN Security Council and giving two seats to the 55 African countries. This means that Africa will become more relevant in world politics in the future.
