tnarref
tnarref t1_jaa9nhl wrote
Reply to comment by CuriousShower9 in Macron flies to Africa to counter waning French influence by HRJafael
Russia is in it for reasons that go beyond Wagner paying themselves with local ressources. The migrant crisis of 2015 deeply divided the EU and the members have since shown a tougher stance on migration, Erdogan's Turkey playing a game of blackmailing the EU about potentially opening migration routes to the EU is something which showed Russia that controlling migration routes can be some sort of leverage to be used against the EU.
So Russia is trying to gain presence in Africa for 2 reasons linked to that: 1. With influence in countries migrants leave from/go through with hopes of reaching the EU, they'll have a card to play to get something from the EU in exchange for their cooperation with whatever migration policy the EU will want to put in place, or straight up go against that policy to try to destabilize the EU. And 2. If these countries stay unstable enough, this will keep a steady stream of potential migrants to the EU open.
TLDR: Russia's Africa policy isn't really about Africa, it's about the EU's migration policy.
tnarref t1_jaa84uv wrote
Reply to comment by Silverwhitemango in Macron flies to Africa to counter waning French influence by HRJafael
I'm not sure he's biased, he might just be repeating what he's read elsewhere with no good understanding of monetary policy to make up his own opinion.
tnarref t1_jaaah9m wrote
Reply to comment by komeslaze in Macron flies to Africa to counter waning French influence by HRJafael
Right, let's just let Russia be the most influential power in the countries on the migration routes to the EU, great idea.