Russia is moving to expand its diplomatic presence in Africa, with plans to open new missions in four countries as Moscow deepens its engagement with the continent amid worsening ties with the US and Europe
Russia names 4 African countries where it plans to open new embassies as sanctions and fuel shortages push it beyond the West
- Russia is expanding its diplomatic network in Africa by opening missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Union of the Comoros.
- This move is part of Moscow’s broader strategy to deepen ties with Africa as relations with the US and Europe deteriorate.
- Russia aims to have embassies in nearly every African country, with only a few locations left to cover after the latest expansions.
- The sanctions imposed by the US and EU over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have driven Moscow to seek closer political and economic links with African, Asian, and Middle Eastern nations.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow will launch diplomatic missions in four African countries that have maintained less hostile relations with Russia, as the Kremlin rebuilds a presence on the continent that weakened after the collapse of the Soviet Union
The planned openings in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo and the Union of the Comoros follow the launch of Russian embassies in Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan in 2025
In addition, Moscow has created a new department for partnership with Africa, signalling a more structured effort to deepen ties with the continent
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“Next on the agenda is the launch of diplomatic missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Union of the Comoros,” Lavrov said at a meeting of the Business Council under the Russian foreign minister
Lavrov said “expanding Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent contributes to developing relations.”
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Russia is expanding its diplomatic network in Africa by opening missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Union of the Comoros.AFP
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The expansion comes against a wider backdrop of pressure on Russia, as sanctions from the United States, the European Union and their allies over its invasion of Ukraine continue to limit Moscow’s access to Western finance, trade, technology and diplomatic engagement
At the same time, Russia is facing fuel shortages, long queues and regional restrictions in some areas after Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure
Although the shortages are not driving the Africa push, they add to the pressure on Moscow as it looks for stronger partnerships beyond the West
Against that backdrop, Moscow has turned more aggressively to Africa, Asia and the Middle East to widen its political and economic options
Africa has become central to that strategy, as several countries that receive limited attention from Europe and the US, or face Western sanctions and pressure, increasingly see Russia as anative to traditional Western partnerships
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Russia currently operates 45 embassies in Africa, including in major economies such as Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt
Lavrov said Moscow is rebuilding a presence that fell sharply after the Soviet Union broke apart
“There will be literally four or five countries left where we still need to establish full-fledged embassies, and then we will have 100 percent coverage of the entire African continent with our diplomatic presence,” Lavrov emphasized
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Meanwhile, the planned missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo and Comoros show Moscow’s push to widen its reach beyond Africa’s major economies and conflict zones
Smaller states can still offer strategic value through UN votes, regional influence, maritime access and trade links
Anatoly Bashkin, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of African States to the South, earlier told reporters that all decisions on the embassy in The Gambia had been made and an ambassador had been appointed
In Comoros and Togo, logistical preparations are underway, with officials seeking premises, recruiting staff and preparing to appoint an ambassador in Togo
