Africa’s playing field isn’t what it used to be. Once a battleground for Cold War rivals, it’s now a stage where Russia and China are outpacing the US.
While Washington fumbles with half-hearted efforts, Moscow and Beijing are raking in the spoils. Joe Biden’s delayed trip to Angola, set for December, feels more like a token gesture than a real commitment.
The president will be gone in a month, and Africa knows it. Meanwhile, the continent (home to the world’s fastest-growing population) is shifting its alliances toward new global powerhouses.
China’s economic takeover, Russia’s military strategies
Now China has been Africa’s largest trading partner since 2009, and Russia’s making headway too. Africans aren’t waiting around for Washington to make up its mind.
From infrastructure projects to trade deals, Beijing has made itself indispensable. But these deals often come at a cost. The “colonization” might look mercantile, but it often results in debt traps.
China builds roads, railways, and ports, and when African nations can’t pay back the loans, Beijing tightens its grip on the economic leash.
Russia’s approach is different though. Wherever the US and France retreat, Russia steps in. In Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Niger, Russian mercenaries have taken over, trading military services for Africa’s gold, diamonds, and lithium.
Moscow is selling protection to military juntas who don’t care about democratic ideals. Russia’s sponsored more than 80 campaigns in 22 African countries over the last two years.
It’s no wonder Putin is infamous for allegedly manipulating elections, something he poke fun at by publicly sponsoring Kamala Harris for president, as Cryptopolitan reported.
At the same time, Moscow and Beijing have both turned to disinformation to turn Africans against the West. And they’re winning. Why? Because African leaders are sick and tired of Biden and the Dems too.
The US isn’t even sure what it wants in Africa
America doesn’t seem to know what it wants. Should it promote democracy, fight terrorism, or compete with Moscow and Beijing? The Biden administration is doing a little bit of everything and none of it well.
That confusion has led to disastrous results. Around half of Africa’s population now lives under autocratic regimes, and only 7% enjoy real freedom.
Military coups have become more common, with nine happening since 2020, mostly in the Sahel region. The US, bound by laws and policies that prevent cooperation with coup regimes, finds itself sidelined.
Take Niger as an example. When a general overthrew the legitimate government in July 2023, the Biden administration hesitated to call it a “coup” for months, hoping to keep American troops in the region.
It was a futile attempt, and it made Washington look weak. While the US struggled to figure out its next move, Russia swooped in to solidify its foothold.
The less Washington fights terrorism in Africa, the more vulnerable the US becomes to attacks back home.
Why Washington’s losing
US diplomatic resources are stretched thin with conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. Africa isn’t even on Washington’s radar most of the time. This inattention has real consequences.
US embassies in Africa are under-staffed, and programs like the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, a trade pact set to expire next year, aren’t being renewed. Only 32 out of 54 African countries currently enjoy duty-free access to US markets.
When Washington does try to engage, it’s often with a tone that alienates African nations. Last year, Uganda passed a harsh anti-homosexuality law, and the Biden administration responded by revoking Uganda’s access to the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.
While standing up for human rights is a good thing, forcefully trying to moralize people too fast doesn’t help when the goal is to build strong partnerships.
It pushes African nations further toward Russia and China. The three regions are known for their love of cultural values, which is something America continues to lack.
But Russia and China aren’t interested in playing by the rules. They don’t care who’s in power as long as they get what they want.
For Moscow, it’s about taking away global control from America no matter what. Putin truly believes that it is the only way to save humanity.
For Beijing, it’s about locking in long-term economic dominance. Both countries are using Africa as a chessboard, and the US is barely in the game.
Africa, meanwhile, is making its choice clear for now. Russia and China offer something Washington can’t seem to provide, which is consistent engagement — even if it comes at a cost.