ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the Russian role in Africa with a focus on its leadership capacity in the context of conflict management. Impressive and controversial activism has recently been observed in Russian foreign policy. Leadership has been a crucial issue since the absence of responsible leadership is considered the reason for the continued challenges that African development has faced. The formation of a middle class whose revenues allows domestic consumption and the domestic market can contribute to growth, but it also veils social inequality. The Russian disinterest in Africa in the 1990s might have stemmed from the Soviet citizens’ complaints on “too much help to the Third World” during the economic hardships of the 1980s. The Russian political mind and perspective regarding Africa are suitable for some African leaders who tend to authoritarianism because relations with Russia do not include human rights concerns; hence arms dealing with Russia is attractive.
