How Russia's historical ties are fading in southern Africa
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Russia's influence in southern Africa is facing a significant challenge as the region's historical memory of the Soviet Union's role in liberation movements begins to fade.
Lwazi Somya, manager of research and development at the Southern African Liaison Office, made this observation during the Russia-Africa conference co-hosted by the Valdai Discussion Club and the South African Institute of International Affairs in Pretoria.
He warned that the decline in electoral support for former liberation movements in southern Africa could signal a loss of historical memory in Russia's relations with African countries, potentially eroding the soft power gained during the Soviet Union era.
"Russia has to engage with the decline of support to former liberation movements within southern Africa in terms of electoral support," he said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Somya cited the recent meeting of southern African liberation movements, where Russia was mentioned only once in the declaration, as evidence of the diminishing influence.
He also pointed out that Russia's trade relations with South Africa are relatively low, ranking 46th as an export partner and 39th as a source of imports.
"The ideological dilution of governance within southern Africa" and the emergence of a new generation without attachment to the liberation history are further challenges for Russia, Somya said.
"Young people are forgetting the historical role Russia played, and therefore those historic memory connections Russia has predicated on and relied on in terms of soft power are declining," he added.
Godwin Gonde, a lecturer at the Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Centre for Foreign Regions in Tanzania, noted that Russian-African relations have evolved, spanning pre-colonial, liberation Struggle, Cold War, and post-Cold War eras.
However, he emphasised that the current generation often lacks knowledge of this history, and that Russia's re-engagement with Africa is taking place in a vastly different context.
"The future generation will no longer have the same historical context and good notion of relations," Gonde said, highlighting the importance of learning from past experiences to move forward as global partners.
He added that Russia's renewed engagement with Africa comes at a time when the continent is struggling to find its footing in a rapidly changing world.
Munyaradzi Nyakudya, chairperson of the Department of Peace, Security and Society at the University of Zimbabwe, praised the Russians for their trade cooperation investments made in his country.
"I think they are doing a lot in terms of trying to get into mining and energy. We have seen some cultural exchanges. We have seen quite a number in terms of the scholarships and education exchanges," he said.
However, Nyakudya noted that despite significant developments on the ground, the visibility of Russia's presence in Zimbabwe is lacking, and the relationship between the two countries has faced criticism for being elitist.
He bemoaned the fact that the benefits of the partnership are not trickling down to the grassroots level, where the country's resources are being exported as raw materials.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Ukraine charges six people, including lawmaker, in drone procurement scheme
Kyiv relies on a steady supply of drones and electronic warfare systems to fight Moscow's invasion. It is also waging a crackdown on graft critical to its future in the European Union. Anti-corruption authorities said on Saturday they had uncovered a scheme offering kickbacks for purchases at inflated prices. It involved the legislator, one current and one now-sacked official, a National Guard commander and two businessmen. 'In 2024–2025, an organised criminal group systematically misappropriated funds allocated by local authorities for defence needs,' the National Anti-Corruption Bureau said in a statement. It said the bribes totalled around 30% of the contracts' value. The drone contract was worth $240,000 with an inflation of about $80,000, the bureau said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who sparked a public furore last month for briefly scrapping the independence of two anti-corruption agencies, praised the move on Saturday after meeting with the agency heads. In addition to the lawmaker, those charged on Monday include a former governor and regional administration chief, the head of a city military administration, the commander of a National Guard Unit, and the director and the owner of a drone manufacturer. The lawmaker was ordered into custody for two months on Monday, pending bail of the equivalent of around $190,000, Ukraine's anti-corruption court said. Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court later identified one of those charged as Serhiy Haidai, former head of the military administration in northeastern Luhansk region, now held by Russian forces, and later head of the regional administration in a city in western Ukraine. The court said Haidai was ordered held in custody for 60 days and offered the possibility of posting bail equivalent to $240,000. The others charged were not identified. The equipment was locally manufactured.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa says South Africa will engage US over new tariffs as trade challenges loom
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Banele Ginidza President Cyril Ramaphosa has underscored the country's commitment to maintaining market access in the face of the United States' recent decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports. This significant shift in trade policy highlights the urgency for South Africa to navigate increasingly turbulent international trade waters and adapt its export strategies. In his latest newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa articulated a dual approach: not only will the government engage with the US to ensure mutually beneficial trade relations, but it will also accelerate the diversification of its export markets by boosting intra-African trade. Recognising the US as South Africa's third-largest trading partner, Ramaphosa acknowledged the measure's potential to disrupt industries heavily dependent on exports to the US, thereby affecting thousands of jobs and the country's fiscal stability. "Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. As government, we have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US," Ramaphosa said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Last month, US President Donald Trump said the sweeping tariffs will apply to 'any and all South African products sent into the United States,' and were being imposed outside of any sectoral trade deals. In a letter dated July 7, Trump said the move was 'necessary to correct the many years of South Africa's Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers,' blaming Pretoria for what he called 'unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.' However, Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. He said South African exports did not compete with US producers and did not pose a threat to US industry. "Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States' industrial base. South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain," he said. "South African imports ultimately benefit US consumers in terms of both choice and cost. By way of example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production. "Furthermore, production by US companies has been on the decline for a number of years as yhe US sector grapples with low yields, citrus greening disease, and other factors unrelated to competition from imports. Imports from South Africa, the world's second largest citrus exporter, have filled a gap and contributed to stable supply and prices for US consumers."
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Activists demand repatriation of Edgar Lungu's body as court reserves judgment
Activists under the Progressive Forces of South Africa are calling for the repatriation of the late former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu's body, as the Pretoria High Court reserves judgment on the landmark case until later this week. This follows the death of former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu on June 5 at Mediclinic Medforum in Pretoria, which has since triggered a tense standoff between his family and the Zambian government. Authorities in Zambia are pushing for the repatriation of former President Edgar Lungu's remains for an official state funeral, a move firmly rejected by his family, who insist he be laid to rest in South Africa after failed negotiations. The dramatic court ruling was delivered just moments before a private burial was due to take place on 31 July. Lungu served as president from January 25, 2015, until August 24, 2021. Following his departure from office, he faced a series of legal challenges and political isolation. His family, including his wife, Esther Lungu, and their children, have been implicated in various corruption charges, including allegations of money laundering and proceeds of crime. Esther Lungu has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing cars. Lebogang Shovhote, Secretary General of the Progressive Forces of South Africa, voiced strong opposition to Edgar Lungu being laid to rest in South Africa. She pointed out that the country already struggles with ongoing land claim disputes, where burial sites are sometimes exploited to support land ownership claims. Shohote warned that permitting Lungu's burial in South Africa could set a troubling precedent, making the nation a refuge for those escaping legal consequences. 'The Lungu family has committed offences in Zambia and now wants to use South Africa as a place of refuge,' she said. Shovhote further alleged that Lungu entered South Africa using a passport under a different name, raising serious concerns about discrepancies in his documentation. 'Even hospital records don't reflect that Edgar Lungu was ever admitted to any South African facility,' she claimed. She added that burying Lungu in South Africa could set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging other African leaders accused of crimes in their home countries to view South Africa as a refuge to escape justice and avoid facing consequences for their actions. Shovhote emphasised that they are hopeful the court will order the Lungu family to repatriate his body to Zambia. The Pretoria High Court has reserved judgment, with Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba stating that a ruling will be delivered before the end of the week. The Star [email protected]
