РусскийWest Africa is a diverse region, with a considerable European colonial past and some regional conflicts, especially in the Sahel region. Parts of it are changing fast as colonial powers depart with Russian diplomacy replacing decades of European influence.
This Guide includes Russia’s trade, investment and development status with Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Key to Russian interests in West Africa are its maritime accessibility and the Atlantic Ocean, while the region can be seen as a developing longer-term strategy in African mineral and energy ventures as well as a substantial consumer growth market. Russia for example is one of the world’s largest producers of wheat, while conflicts and global warming are diminishing Africa’s ability to feed itself. Consequently, Russia’s involvement in West Africa is also diverse.
Significant multilateral confidence and trade and investment gains have been made by the recent ‘Russia-Africa Summits’ as well as Russia’s soft power via its ‘Russia House’ programmes, many of which have been in place since Soviet times. That longer-term is now paying off, politicians now in power, such as Ghana’s current President, have graduated from Russian Universities.
Of great interest to Russia are the regional and continental trade agreements that have also come into place in West Africa. This includes the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which currently includes Benin, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Mauritania is an associate member.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger meanwhile have created the Alliance of Sahel States as a separate trade bloc.
In addition to this, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), brings together eight West African states of which seven were French colonies until the late 1950s. This includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
The West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) is a group of six countries within ECOWAS that plan to introduce a common currency called the eco. This includes The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Finally, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) includes all West African countries.
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