Abstract

Africa has become yet again an area of great-power rivalry to the extent that the notorious ‘scramble for Africa’ of the 19th century is re-ocurring. This time with a salient difference: African societies have also manifested various self-government levels, though not always in line with universal democratic human development. Moreover, the continent’s conflicts have provoked foreign powers’ involvement in line with their search for influence in world politics. 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. Their main claim has been recognition as a major power in a multipolar world, with a say in world politics’ major issues. Africa emerged particularly important in this respect on the grounds of former Soviet influence in this continent and the absence of the Russian Empire (due in fact to its lack of ability) in the notorious ‘scramble’ in the 19th century.