L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

CHAPTER 3
Project RUSSAFRICA: Towards a Strategic
Partnership for Modernization and Development
3.1. Lessons Learnt but Forgotten? Squandered
Treasures of Soviet-African Cooperation
THE CONTEMPORARY economic relations between Russia
and Africa became more dynamic only 3–4 years ago. Otherwise,
the last twenty years of the Russian – African economic cooperation
were as sleepy and difficult as the first twenty were energetic and
fruitful.
For economic and political ties with Africa Gorbachev’s “perestroika”
and Yeltsin’s “democratic reforms” meant a steep downward
slide. The last leader of the Soviet Union tried to win the sympathies
of the West by retreating from peripheral areas of the superpowers’
confrontation. The first president of the democratic Russia
surrendered the remaining global positions in exchange for political
and financial support that allowed him to topple Gorbachev and to
remain in power for the next decade.
In 1992, one of the first international initiatives of the new democratic
regime was to close 9 embassies, 3 consulates and 20 trade
missions of the Russian Federation in Africa. Even enfeebled Russia
still could have preserved significant positions on the continent, so
strong were the achievements after the decolonization. But Moscow
rulers lacked the political will and their economic interests lay elsewhere.
Africa’s significance as an economic partner sharply deteriorated.
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