Vol 63 No 5 | SOUTH AFRICARUSSIA Moscow invasion strains bilateral ties 3rd March 2022 Internal rivalries in the ruling ANC complicate the government’s response to war in Ukraine Russia's full-blown war against Ukraine has opened a crack in the BRICS alliance – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the political and economic grouping that...
Vol 66 No 18 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGERRUSSIA Putin’s gambit in the Sahel as France leaves the stage 3rd September 2025 Moscow courts the three juntas with anti-western rhetoric and promises of gold refineries and nuclear power but is struggling to counter insurgents On 14 August, the defence ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – Generals Sadio Camara, Célestin Simporé and Salifou Modi – were in Moscow for talks with...
Vol 65 No 12 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLICRUSSIA West set on banishing Moscow's forces from Bangui 30th May 2024 The death of Prigozhin has neither reduced the influence of Russia nor diminished France's efforts to charm Bangui out of the Kremlin's grip Russian mercenaries no longer openly roam the streets of Bangui by day as in the Wagner Group's heyday, but they still pluck President Faustin-Archange Touadéra's opponents from the...
Vol 47 No 25 | GAMBIASENEGAL Crossing the river 15th December 2006 Since March, fighting has raged between rebels and troops in Senegal's southern Casamance province, driving more than 10,000 refugees across the border. Rebel fighters crossed too: their leader,...
Vol 55 No 14 | ZIMBABWERUSSIA Arms-for-platinum deal 11th July 2014 The governing ZANU-PF has found a way to trade platinum rights for Russian weapons to replace those it lost in Congo Zimbabwe is to boost its inventory of Russian strike aircraft after concluding a US$3 billion platinum-for-arms deal with Russia. The government is desperate to replenish its armaments, many...