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AFRICA RUSSIA

Patriarch Kirill, the pugnacious emissary of Russian diplomacy in Africa

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AFRICA

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

Russia's influence on the continent is spreading in step with rising instability in many African countries and tensions between France and many of its former colonies. This trend is bolstered by the presence of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group close to Vladimir Putin. Its mercenaries have intervened in Libya and Mozambique and are now offering their services in West and Central Africa. Driven by the Kremlin, Russia's security breakthrough in Africa is also backed by the defence ministry, serving Moscow's geopolitical interests, and paving the way for Russia to move into other fields on the continent. [...]

The Putin-friendly patriarch of Moscow severed ties with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine when Russia invaded Ukraine's Donbass region and the impact of this break-up is now rippling across Africa, where the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is trying, again in step with Moscow, to outstrip the Patriarch of Alexandria. [...] (1502 words)

Issue dated 29/11/2021 Reading time 7 minutes

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. © Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

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Diplomacy

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Archbishop Leonid of Klin. © Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church

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From Abidjan to Doha: the secret missions of former minister Djibrill Bassolé

Eskom's fate caught up in the clash between Ramaphosa and Mantashe

Patriarch Kirill, the pugnacious emissary of Russian diplomacy in Africa

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

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Receive free prompts for these topics

Moscow ups its game in bell tower battle in the Horn

From Nairobi to Lagos, Moscow wages religious war on Kyiv

After Madagascar, the Patriarch of Moscow sets his sights on Brazzaville

Orthodox patriarchs battle for Africa in Madagascar

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Russian Romanov heir's understated African interest

Australian uranium producers take on Rosatom in its turf

Kacy Grine, architect of the Kinshasa-Alrosa deal

Billionaire Konstantin Malofeev turns his attentions to Africa

Spymasters help Yevgeny Primakov Jr with Russian World charm offensive

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Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Receive free prompts for these topics

Moscow ups its game in bell tower battle in the Horn

From Nairobi to Lagos, Moscow wages religious war on Kyiv

After Madagascar, the Patriarch of Moscow sets his sights on Brazzaville

Orthodox patriarchs battle for Africa in Madagascar

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Russian Romanov heir's understated African interest

Australian uranium producers take on Rosatom in its turf

Kacy Grine, architect of the Kinshasa-Alrosa deal

Billionaire Konstantin Malofeev turns his attentions to Africa

Spymasters help Yevgeny Primakov Jr with Russian World charm offensive

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