MASWALI 🌍 | Issue 3

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

It’s really been a blitz these last couple of months. The Russia-Africa summit, 2 coups in West Africa, and the Wagner boss dead. Plus the Africa Climate Summit this past week. Gwe!

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

We can start off with The Russia- Africa Summit in Moscow. Quite a bit to unpack. Russia, China and the US are all visibly eager to gain a firm foothold in Africa, to ensure access to resources and markets for trade. This will be crucial for whoever wants to maintain global economic and political dominance.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Indeed.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

At the Summit, Putin made some pretty big announcements. First, he announced $23 B worth of African debt to Russia, would be written off. Then, following criticism about backing out of Black Sea Grain Initiative, he announced Russia would provide 6 African nations up to 50,000 metric tons of free gain in the months following the summit.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️; 

Man! They are pretty intentional about portraying themselves as anti-colonialists and treating Africans with respect. But we should not forget that they do have a history of imposed rule against others, particularly in Europe. And of course, we cannot ignore their relationship with Wagner, and its questionable involvement across Africa.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Wagner is a private militia group started by Prigozhin back in 2022. And they have been on quite the campaign across Africa over the last decade or so. They are active in countries like the Central African Republic where the Wagner-affiliate Diamville mines gold and diamonds. They are also active in Libya where the Russian Tatneft company engages in oil exploration, Mozambique with which Russia has signed energy and security agreements and Sudan where the Wagner Group operates a gold processing plant. And, because of that private status, Russia can claim plausible deniability when intervening in other countries’ affairs.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Prigozhin has enjoyed a close relationship with Putin, often referred to as “Putin’s chef” and even assisting the Russian military in its Ukraine campaign. The relationship went sour when part of the Wagner force (which is apparently about 25,000 strong) staged a mutiny and marched on Moscow to oust Russia's army chief, Valery Gerasimov, and defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, for under-supplying Wagner's troops, many of whom were killed or injured.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

A peace was negotiated between Putin and Prigozhin though, and all seemed well. Prigozhin was actually at the Russia Africa Summit, which surprised a lot of people. So when the news dropped that his private plane had crashed I almost spat out my drink! Although reports that the FSB (Russia’s intelligence agency) might be behind his death were not very surprising.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Before he died, Prigozhin had announced that Wagner would expand its efforts in Africa. In light of his death, it’s probably still in Russia’s best interests to maintain its presence on the continent to protect its commercial and political interests.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye , Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki & Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed showed up in person. Other Eastern African states like … sent representatives. A notable absence was Kenya’s Ruto though. He opted to be represented by the African Union. He’s a little sore of the whole power dynamic of African leaders being summoned to Europe, and being treated like beggars. Remember that time when they went for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral?

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

How the Russians milked this for propaganda is peak banter though!

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Although, this could be a distraction from possible pressure from the West for him not to attend. And that’s not a far fetched assumption. Look at how the World Bank has put an end to future public financing in Uganda citing the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality law.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

Exactly! The will of the incoming Non Aligned Movement Summit comes to mind, “A Stronger & United Non Aligned Movement That Contributes to a Better World for All”. In times reminiscent of Cold War dynamics where two superpowers pushed to impose their ideals on weaker states over the other superpower, African countries should deepen cooperation with each other rather than be swayed by these powers who only seek to serve their own interests. It's only then that Africans can strive towards putting an end to serving as a rag doll of the US and Russia.

Malcolm👨🏾‍⚖️;

😂😂😂😂

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