The Russian state consortium Rosoboronexport announced on Monday that Africa has absorbed more than 30% of its total arms exports in 2023, amounting to a total of 5.2 billion dollars (4.78 billion euros) so far.
“The share of exports to African countries in 2023 exceeded 30% of total stocks of Rosoboronexport,” said Alexandr Mikheyev, chairman of the arms export monopoly, quoted in a consortium statement.
Mikheyev, who is participating in the international arms fair EDEX in Cairo this week, emphasized that the conglomerate is doing its best to be a “reliable partner” for its African customers.
Rosoboronexoport “is aware of the security challenges and threats facing African countries,” he said.
The consortium, which exports dual-use military and civilian products, is also actively working with African countries in areas such as the fight against terrorism, cybersecurity and space programs.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Russia has intensified relations with African countries, especially in the Sahel, several of whose leaders went to Moscow to ask for weapons, planes, helicopters and mercenaries, given the tensions between these leaders and France.
The Kremlin is trying to replace the mercenaries of the Wagner Group on the ground, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in August, with new military companies subordinate to the Defense Ministry.
Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov has already visited the region twice, a trip emulated by his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba, who is also looking for allies in Africa.
Rosboronexport claims that the Russia-Africa summit, held in St. Petersburg last July, allowed the country to identify “areas of increased interaction” with African countries.
Source: DN
