Russia, West Compete for Influence in Africa
2022-08-03
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1Russian, French, and American leaders are traveling across Africa to win support for their countries' positions on the war in Ukraine.
2Experts say it is the most intense competition for influence in Africa since the Cold War when the former Soviet Union and the West sought closer ties with the continent.
3Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron began visiting several African countries.
4Samantha Power is head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
5She went to Kenya and Somalia in July.
6The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, is expected to go to Ghana and Uganda soon.
7Lavrov has been traveling across Africa where many countries are suffering from food shortages.
8He sought to blame rising food prices on Western countries because they placed trade restrictions on Russia over its war in Ukraine.
9Western leaders have accused Russia of using food as a weapon.
10They have also accused Russia of fighting a war to gain more territory.
11Russia has been working to win support in Africa for several years.
12President Vladimir Putin has tried to strengthen relationships that are more than 50 years old.
13At that time, the Soviet Union supported many African movements fighting to push out European colonial rulers.
14The United Nations vote to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine demonstrated some of Russia's influence in Africa.
15Twenty-eight African nations voted in favor of the resolution. But, 25 countries abstained, meaning they did not vote at all.
16In late July, Russia's top diplomat visited Egypt, Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
17Lavrov accused the U.S. and European countries of driving up food prices by pushing risky environmental policies.
18He also accused them of keeping large amounts of food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
19"The situation in Ukraine did additionally negatively affect food markets," Lavrov said in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.
20But he said food shortages were not caused by the "Russian special operation," or war in Ukraine.
21He blamed the problems on the reaction of the West and its sanctions on his country.
22Lavrov was warmly received in Uganda by President Yoweri Museveni.
23Museveni has been a U.S. ally for many years.
24But he has refused to criticize Russia over the invasion.
25Museveni even suggested at the outbreak of the war that Putin's actions might be understandable because Ukraine is in Russia's area of influence.
26Lavrov voiced support for reform of the U.N. Security Council to give African countries permanent seats and greater influence.
27Museveni is considered an opinion leader in Africa and has held power for about 30 years.
28Russia is also trying to win African public opinion through its state television network, RT, formerly known as Russia Today.
29RT has announced that it will open a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa.
30In March, RT was suddenly removed from Africa's biggest paid-television service, Multichoice which is based in Johannesburg.
31The decision came after the European Union and Britain enforced sanctions against Russia.
32It is not clear whether creating the new office will permit RT to broadcast again to Africa through Multichoice. Multichoice claims 22 million people pay for its service.
33"For Russia, it is the battle to be heard in Africa.
34It is not important for the actual war effort but for their long-term political influence," said Anton Harber.
35He is a professor of journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand.
36On his trip to Africa, France's Macron accused Russia of using TV channels like RT to spread propaganda in support of the war.
37Macron urged Africans not to side with Russia.
38He said, "I'm telling you here in Africa, a continent that has suffered from colonial imperialism: Russia is one of the last colonial, imperial powers. She decides to invade a neighboring country to defend her interests," he said.
39"That's the reality."
40Samantha Power, the top U.S. AID official, was in East Africa to promise aid to help the region's fight against hunger during a period of severe lack of rain.
41She also criticized Russia's blocking of "...Ukraine's grain exports and restricting the trade of Russia's own fertilizer."
42Power said in Nairobi, that Putin's actions have caused pain to the "...people of Kenya and on other countries throughout the world."
43"He is hurting the people of Kenya," she added, in an effort to help "his own situation."
44I'm Anna Matteo.
1Russian, French, and American leaders are traveling across Africa to win support for their countries' positions on the war in Ukraine. 2Experts say it is the most intense competition for influence in Africa since the Cold War when the former Soviet Union and the West sought closer ties with the continent. 3Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron began visiting several African countries. Samantha Power is head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She went to Kenya and Somalia in July. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, is expected to go to Ghana and Uganda soon. 4Restarting old ties 5Lavrov has been traveling across Africa where many countries are suffering from food shortages. He sought to blame rising food prices on Western countries because they placed trade restrictions on Russia over its war in Ukraine. 6Western leaders have accused Russia of using food as a weapon. They have also accused Russia of fighting a war to gain more territory. 7Russia has been working to win support in Africa for several years. President Vladimir Putin has tried to strengthen relationships that are more than 50 years old. At that time, the Soviet Union supported many African movements fighting to push out European colonial rulers. 8The United Nations vote to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine demonstrated some of Russia's influence in Africa. Twenty-eight African nations voted in favor of the resolution. But, 25 countries abstained, meaning they did not vote at all. 9In late July, Russia's top diplomat visited Egypt, Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Lavrov accused the U.S. and European countries of driving up food prices by pushing risky environmental policies. He also accused them of keeping large amounts of food during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10"The situation in Ukraine did additionally negatively affect food markets," Lavrov said in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. But he said food shortages were not caused by the "Russian special operation," or war in Ukraine. He blamed the problems on the reaction of the West and its sanctions on his country. 11Aiming for increased influence 12Lavrov was warmly received in Uganda by President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni has been a U.S. ally for many years. But he has refused to criticize Russia over the invasion. Museveni even suggested at the outbreak of the war that Putin's actions might be understandable because Ukraine is in Russia's area of influence. 13Lavrov voiced support for reform of the U.N. Security Council to give African countries permanent seats and greater influence. 14Museveni is considered an opinion leader in Africa and has held power for about 30 years. 15Russia is also trying to win African public opinion through its state television network, RT, formerly known as Russia Today. RT has announced that it will open a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa. 16In March, RT was suddenly removed from Africa's biggest paid-television service, Multichoice which is based in Johannesburg. The decision came after the European Union and Britain enforced sanctions against Russia. 17It is not clear whether creating the new office will permit RT to broadcast again to Africa through Multichoice. Multichoice claims 22 million people pay for its service. 18"For Russia, it is the battle to be heard in Africa. It is not important for the actual war effort but for their long-term political influence," said Anton Harber. He is a professor of journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand. 19'That's the reality.' 20On his trip to Africa, France's Macron accused Russia of using TV channels like RT to spread propaganda in support of the war. 21Macron urged Africans not to side with Russia. He said, "I'm telling you here in Africa, a continent that has suffered from colonial imperialism: Russia is one of the last colonial, imperial powers. She decides to invade a neighboring country to defend her interests," he said. "That's the reality." 22Samantha Power, the top U.S. AID official, was in East Africa to promise aid to help the region's fight against hunger during a period of severe lack of rain. She also criticized Russia's blocking of "...Ukraine's grain exports and restricting the trade of Russia's own fertilizer." 23Power said in Nairobi, that Putin's actions have caused pain to the "...people of Kenya and on other countries throughout the world." 24"He is hurting the people of Kenya," she added, in an effort to help "his own situation." 25I'm Anna Matteo. 26Andrew Meldrum and Mogomotsi Magome reported this story for the Associated Press. AP journalist Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda contributed to the story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 27__________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29Cold War -n. the nonviolent conflict between the U.S. and the former U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) after 1945 30continent -n. one of six or seven very large divisions of land on Earth 31rival -adj. describing sides that are trying to defeat or be more successful than each other 32abstain -v. to choose not to vote 33negatively -adv. harmfully, badly 34sanctions -n. (usually pl.) an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country 35_________________________________________________________ 36We want to hear from you. What do you think of this story? 37We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 38Write your comment in the box. 39Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. 40Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with "D" on it. It is free. 41Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.