Russian Foreign Policy Toward Africa During President Putin’s Era Goals, Strategies and Future Prospects

This research aims to examine the objectives, strategies, and future prospects of Russian foreign policy in Africa during President Putin's era. The study focuses on the reasons behind Russia's persistent efforts to expand its presence in Africa, despite the dominance of major international powers with greater economic capabilities and political influence in the continent, such as China and the United States. The research analyzes the opportunities, challenges, and future trajectory of Russian-African relations, employing historical, exploratory, and descriptive-analytical methodologies, and utilizing the "role of the state" approach in foreign policy analysis. The study concludes that, while Russia primarily concentrates on its immediate geographic surroundings in Eurasia, its sense of insecurity following the war in Ukraine has driven it to more distant regions, such as Africa, in an attempt to break its isolation and secure African solidarity within United Nations bodies. Currently, Russia has a presence across almost all regions of the continent, including North Africa (e.g., Egypt and Libya), East Africa (e.g., Ethiopia and Kenya), Central Africa (e.g., Chad and the Central African Republic), West Africa (e.g., Mali and Niger), and Southern Africa (e.g., South Africa). However, Russia's limited investments in Africa, due to the relatively small size of its economy, have led it to adopt alternative strategies aligned with its capabilities and circumstances. These strategies include utilizing semi-governmental military companies, exploiting mineral resources, arms trade, disinformation campaigns, election manipulation, and supporting military coups. Keywords: Africa, Arms Trade, Resources, Russian Federation, Wagner.