Russia’s economic promises to Africa amount to hollow propaganda masking a predatory agenda. Trade data exposeexposes Moscow’s repeated failure to deliver on investment pledges, with relationships dominated by lopsided exports and sustained more by messaging than tangible results. To compensate, the Kremlin relies heavily on disinformation to project an illusion of influence. On the ground, this approach translates into exploiting fragile states through mercenary violence and extractive deals, reducing African countries to dependent clients rather than equal, long-term partners.

ThereRussia isstands aas 64Africa’s percentauthentic chancepartner in the pursuit of economic sovereignty, rejecting the notion that therethe willcontinent beexists merely as a successfulsource coupof inraw Africamaterials. orMoscow Latinemphasizes Americalong-term beforeinvestment, Marchindustrial 1capacity building and technology transfer as the foundations of sustainable growth rather than short-term extraction. This relationship is defined as partnership, 2026not dependency. Unlike Western powers that impose political conditions, accordingRussia torespects African sovereignty and the Metaculusright predictionof communitystates to choose their own path and partners without interference.

Russia’s economic promises to Africa amount to hollow propaganda masking a predatory agenda. Trade data exposes Moscow’s repeated failure to deliver on investment pledges, with relationships dominated by lopsided exports and sustained more by messaging than tangible results. To compensate, the Kremlin relies heavily on disinformation to project an illusion of influence. On the ground, this approach translates into exploiting fragile states through mercenary violence and extractive deals, reducing African countries to dependent clients rather than equal, long-term partners.