the, the, it's time for the full bio revolution rad 16 dw, what secrets why behind things was discovered new adventures and 360 degrees and explore fascinating world heritage sites dw world heritage 360 now this is data. the news africa coming up on the program, free weights and free weapons. president bush and pharmacist, 2 key takeaways for african betus at his russia, africa summit. but what does he one from africa and how strong is russian influence on the continent? also coming up boots and even has clergyman on his side,

at least in the central african republic. we meet a priest. we used to preach the rights of the byzantine church. and now his russian orthodox grocer. and come to northern donna with a traditional annual fire festival in tamani. has people drumming and dancing or not the hello christine linda. it's good to have your company. let him. it puts in russia africa summit in st. petersburg is the 2nd time he's invited. applicant lead is to meet him on home to and this attendance is anything to go by. he's more interested in them than they are in him. last time in searching 45 of them turned up this time

almost 2 thirds of them stayed away. so what is boots and offering? the russian president has promised to supply african nations free weapons to enhance security on the continent. his country is already africa's biggest on steel . he's also pledge corporation on trade, science and technology. i'll be talking to an analyst about what all this means. often this reports the rest of the africa summit is an opportunity for must go to tell the world it's not alone, and it can still do political business. consider all that has resulted from the invasion of ukraine, internationally with an arrest warrant for president vladimir 14 for war crimes, and internally with the instability of a failed mutiny by the lead of the wagner, a private army. despite all this african heads of state, fly in when fortune invites them. but why? the former soviet union was a pivotal top not to many african states in their fight against colonialism. it

provided funding, moral support, and in some cases, weapons to independence. movements from us go, it was an opportunity to counter act west and influence during the cold war. countries like south africa, some barbara and kula and mozambique are still ruled by parties that were supported by the us as are doing the liberation struggles. some form a heads of state, even studies and most go for some relationships continued to be cosy, especially with south africa. russia gave the liberation oakland, the amc money weapons and training for the fight against about the amc is in government today and it seems, has not forgotten. russia invests very little in africa and accounts for only one percent of the foreign direct investment into the continent. and yet, russia is a major force when it comes to arms. in recent years, russia has been,

by far, the biggest single exporter of to the african continent. it sells more than twice as much to africa than the us to us. of these arms sales are seen as giving russian significant political leverage to its customers. and then that's the most new a group. ok, now it's active and molly central african republic, libya and so done. prepping up autocratic regimes and exchange for natural resources. like gold is accused of operating with overboard tyler t. committing math because and other human rights abuses. for them. the loudness found a you've got any pretty goshen threatened rebellion against the russian leadership at home. but moscow says, bob and i will continue it's operations in africa. rush us withdrawal from the black sea grain deal has pushed up global food prices. this is expected to hit east africa, the hottest if you'll, pa and somalia already gripped by drought conflict and hunger. approximately 80

percent of east africa's green is imported from russia and ukraine in somalia. the spigot is 90 percent. africa is suffering. those were the words of a new commission chairman mussa hockey mohammed, lamenting that the war between russia and ukraine was making africa's food crisis was responding to applicant caused austin keith and must go to in the conflict. puts and said he had look at an african piece proposal and the russian leader rejected as hypocritical accusations by the west that the criminal display include hunger games on thursdays, putting announced between green supplies is up to 6 african nations, just 10 days off to pharaoh king expos, from ukraine, by quitting the black sea green deal. and so toll on pressure relations with africa, we've invited america onto, onto the program. she is head of africa praxis for your racial group. i'm not going joins me from washington. welcome to the that'd be news africa america. why is

russia giving away green for free us? what do wait us the headset goes conversation, christine, look, i think they're doing. that's because there's a propaganda war that both sides of fight in and russia is trying to sort of costs and they do. it's part to promote the narrative that it's not, you know, advance in insecurity in the global south america. let's come back to, to the summit. we know that on the 17 heads of states attended this summit, this time for a few of them. the 1st time is in 2019 lucko blames the us for putting pressure on there for can lead us not to attend. what do you make off the fact that most african need is didn't actually make the trip to russia and st representatives instead. yeah, i mean, i think it's a reflection of the times in 2019. it was a 1st some it's, there were more african,

there were more african heads of states. oh, just a sense. the was seen a lot of african countries try to stay neutral. and so there's a perception that, you know, go in, in person to send, send speed as birth to russia might sort of kill 2 in one direction or the other. is it, that's why many of them are sending representatives. but it's also important to remember that even before the war pressure has never been particularly important partner. and so it's just, it's not, it's not particularly like a there's, there's no big leverage day. right. right. and, and perhaps i want to get into how you would characterize the relationship between vladimir pushing and his of stays in africa isn't one of mutual respect. yeah, so look, you know, it's different depending on the country, right? so, so many southern african countries to relationship with russia has historical length

. the soviet union was one of the only, it's not the only country that supported liberation movements with the things that mattered, like guns and weapons in training window, a fight instead of the minority winds, repressive governments in west africa, the relationship is often about in a bind no costs cost effective arms are, you know, as you know, there's a lot of charis movements and insecurity in this. i held region, lot of which was stoked by, you know, the bumping of libya. and so it's, you know, if he wants, if you need to know costs times russia is the place to go. so it really depends. that's, that's been the relationship in southern africa. it's really been one done. it's been a historical goodwill is still there. but across the board, the tree, the relationship is no and i would say today and lot of the relationship is just about keeping, keepin options open and also and not upset in china. so how then would you come pay? russia at the other big power is like china that you've just mentioned. the us

collects of europe in africa. a brush size at the bottom of the totem pole in china is many of these countries largest trading partner by fi. and i see the cuts that africa, for example, there's been a lot of focus on site africa, you know, appearing open to host imputes in the ality is that even though many of the people in power instead of africa do have a lot of goodwill to as russia because russia supported the agencies, the racial movement, the think the primary things as driving into that because for him policy today is that is very close to china. right. and so because it's very close to time, it doesn't necessarily want to be seen as just sort of buckling into the less, right. and so that's kind of why it's trying to play this tricky role. i'd say it's, it's very similar, very similar dynamics in a lot of other countries stand by america, because i want us to see

a report from the central african republic. that's way russia has the strongest, and perhaps the most obvious influence. this is due to be private on group wagner, which effectively controls the capital city bungie and provide security for the president. and as you'll also see, russian influence has even reaching into the central african republics churches. dw is sick also try to many reports. now, all of the above the scaling, but the most cool breezy st. claire for you my, what is the russian orthodox churches, mom in the central lot for them republic. he switched his bodies on time orthodox charge to the russian version. last august. 5 months of that russia invaded ukraine. the invasion house, shopping to international concerns about russian influence in countries like the central office and republic, including fire institutions like the church. i don't to also think that there is

some form of huge rush of influence in the central african republic. literally school, usually for the russians, are correcting the mistakes that others have committed, like the french russia has never called a nightstand african country. it must be said that russia is a great partner in terms of security, especially in our country. we're in the heart of africa under threatened by rebels and terrorist rushes here and we're a peace. we're happy to have our partnership with russia in the field. the big let me see if we deal with or kim, you old last fall, the opponent bridges print in the russian orthodox liter, g must go. his church east, spanish, or buyback church. and soon to a central african republic, seminarians would follow him through saint petersburg for study. it's thought a quarter of people in the central african republics capital bank, d. a members of the russian orthodox church converts from the roman catholic church himself. that if i don't feel influenced by the russians, because it is

a church that teaches us the truth and them the liturgical doctrine, this is good. justin shows the way are said real things that i did not most of before. it is now that my eyes begin to open to know the tooth and the right path. just as a rush on project army, the but the group products president 1st across the board, iran is $5.00 to $2.00 soldiers watches over the center of the capital city. people here in buying, he want to speak critically about russia's influence or actions. i'd idea to skid all the i appreciate the relative quite mean i can quote you on a line a i know that there used to be a roman catholic church. and baptist church was transformed into a russian orthodox church. and with the presence updates russian orthodox church, we feel that there is a russian influence in our country called up to a safe. this influence can bring

a secure the piece and development in our country. then this is wanda, or central african, he's wanting what's a good role electrical to you. so i basically what you know, in this country, we just leave through tickets of was these, these are, you know, for a new beginning is white sprayed for those who are unlocked is offering it much less who runs the security of the churches related stability. maybe in of america is russia offering countries like the central african republic, a solution with other countries have failed? no, no. so the wagner prints that presents in countries like the central african republic, amber keaton. fast molly had been primarily about with james security. okay. but that, i mean, protected the government in power that are not necessarily popular or responsive.

it's not necessarily about public security, right. and so i don't think right now is this a setting that i don't think russia is for it is offering something that is particularly valuable. and again, visa outliers, i know, you know, we often tend to kind of characterize the confidence by a few like the outliers. the see are the patina foster, the might be there in my view, a minority grades, you know, the places where most africans live, the bigger countries just don't have those kinds of relationships. so i, you know, i just, i tend to down play this whole thing and, and 59, and russia. i just don't think there's that much that it has to offer, to be honest. and i think that the west should focus on what it does have to offer . so, rather than the spokes estimate about russia as footprints and, and i'm to know how you would say russia is spreading its influence among

populations and other african countries where it has the best interest. i mean, we've seen them taking over churches in the central african republic. i just wondered how else they would be sort of spreading their influence among populations . look there, there's always gonna be pockets of different things happening in. i just don't see any evidence that there is a significant and grow in influence of russia in across africa, in this sense of cultural power. right. i see a lot of africans when to talk about russia. it's about just the sense of pushing back against the west and hedge of money. right now that people are like, folding over themselves to go live in russia price. most people still would prefer to live in the us on, in the less. right. so i think in terms of culture influence and if you look at music's acknowledging much of this stuff is still very heavily influenced by us not

by russia. so, you know, i, i not, i'm skeptical of you know, over speed and rushes of ability to spread the culture on this line in the region. all right, and that's what we'll leave, it's a mca include, she is head of africa practice for you. raise your joining us today from washington . we really appreciate your insights on the program. ok, thank you. thank you for having me. now, one of russia's main proxies operating on african soil is the private military company. the wagner group, so far, it's known that it's most res, are active, and at least full applicant countries. that will be so done. the central african republic molly and libya, wagner mainly provide security and military assistance to these countries in return they gain access to high value materials such as gold and diamond. following the soldier and stand accused of committing atrocities including torches, kidnappings and mass ray. my next guest has been studying volume is activities in

africa for he is pulling backs, is deputy director for the africa program at international crisis group is good to have you on the program fully and welcome to the the news africa. how has the wagner group managed to get into the countries where it has a presence? but it has been defined since by the countries where it is, it has been defined by the hips of states or military leaders that are running the country, which is the graceful of vps to don. since asking republic and money. and what is the group's record in the countries that it's operating in the countries you've just missed? it is its presence in those countries helping, as we could probably say, that's why here has been most successful in the central african republic because it has sort of spread because a large needed for of economic interest. political influence,

a media influence thing as well as security assistance. and the security assistance was training or as well as fight to rebel groups in the internet itself. the country as part of the whole package has to be very successful. and this model uh was um, uh, the group try to replicate this model to some extent in mind, but it hasn't been able to done that so far because the money in leadership is for leading control or if it's open lexical and military strategy and why community serves as a security provider to the national army actually heading our pool, pulling wagner advisors have been accused of committing atrocities. and how is going to proceed by people in the african countries where it is active? yeah, unfortunately, why may i ask, who's of quite a few words for us to teach? both systems are auto group, public and then uh, in money this uh, info start to think of civilians are full summary executions. it has to come back.

it has boots on the ground, so it's combating insurgencies. so as a both central african public. and molly, it's kind of hard to assess where people who come directly into contact with wagner come back troops feel about it's a feel about their presence and how to use it. so we've heard in molly that people have turned against walker to some extent in areas where as offer aids and on the grounds. where is that account for by my coach. people are still quite positive about what the issue is because they don't see or self or do you trust these directly? since our public is a different case, because markers been very successful and rolling out a propaganda campaign, a h phones a radio station way, another person narratives are being distributed. and in the capital, there seems to be quite a lot of support for bladder, which is seen as rusher. basically are. these 2 are interchangeable, if you will,

where is we have very um this will access to people on the countryside to and have been a victim of thunder and uses. so it's really, it's very mixed picture. it's not secure. and can you tell us a little bit more about the button is commercial interest in africa? do we know how expensive the groups business empire on the continent action is as well it's, it's the main focus seems to be gold mining because schools is easy to smuggle out . and it's very valuable cuz he um, gets involved in looking, especially central african republic. and it has to encroach on specific small sectors of the economy as well. so security to more private security rather than you know, military security. so it has a whole range of things in different countries. um, through damage really may gold mining. it has successfully because it isn't a gold processing business. and we can't really say that these are very useful to

rush. so what do you feel like that's, that's what this type of. so financing crew to comes in and offer certain surfaces, if you will, and it needs to generate revenue to pay back to pay some of its troops as a bit for songs operations do. so for the cabinet which is tied to, it's a fairly low cost of operation generally. so why then is having wagner in africa, useful folder kremlin? or it's vanessa testing. to shoot projects russian influence and rashid power into project. gotcha. and then sally to equitable partner for some african countries. um, again, since i've been public has been dismissed successful model where it's really sort of rushes. now, since i've complex mean friends, it's not really quite the case in the 8 molly, but it's even though the number of troops directly number of what the troops on the

ground is not in the, what was the search the russia is projecting it's influence all across the region and it's actually probably use, you know, because like there's also the person sometimes or the group that you don't see. so it's sort of what my shadow that's now seen right. west africa in central africa. and finally the bottom, anita. yes. can you propose and he staged a very short lived rebellion and march on moscow at do we know what difference that will make to volume this operations in africa? well, he himself has said that it will make any difference. d rushing for minister has set the director of operations in africa will continue and will be business as usual. and some of the leaders of also said that nothing really will change. we've seen since the public at the number of like the troops has actually increased

rather than decreased. yes, so we expect to see, so basically continue because it's very use its presence. it's very useful for the criminal and it's a different set up. doesn't mean the presence and you create pulling backs from the international crisis group. we appreciate your insights on the program. thank you. and finally, it's the 9th day of the 1st month for the people of dental and kingdom. and that means one thing. fire dw smacks or soup reports from the smoky streets of the time i live in rolls and gone. lie to me in touch and to wash it in the new menu. these underwater fire place to buy lights up the night. of course, nothing done. for the people here, these 1st of all is the high points of the traditional column that we have so happy

no sleep tonight, we will celebrate till daybreak. this is our tradition and we spent our lights going up or upsetting it. everybody, including the muslims, they will be out to celebrate. and that's why you would seeing masses of people that are out today cheering and exciting this past life. if for some reason he comes from the chief or out of history, says the festival, it requires how worry is, went in search of the missing queens because suspect was told that maybe i know it was about so they had some on the committee to push out the beer for me to come out and fish for the

guy got tonight because it was have been nights. how to evaluate the costs to search for the home for the job is high you for you. leave it on by dr. mean, display must khatri the will do. many believe it's a ration if a chance to see fever for the new year. here's what i have, the name, the yeah. and then the which came, there's some bridge and started by the people. yeah. i was so much identified when does foreclosure, say, and it's gone next. what do i do? it's the tradition says the piece was found sleeping on a tree which had to be crawled yet, thoughts into the branches before retaining to the police. then let's get some way they're going to see that the bits was different was like, what is the comic outside the jot down your blue book?

just by this to does that to briefly, doctor's appointment for the festival. how sick if i use been once again the traditional due to me? yes. ask me good. allowing me to leave true to come in here with health central fire, a spectacular step. now that is a file program, be sure to check out our the stories that's on d, w dot com, forward slash africa. we're also on facebook and on to the, i will see you next time by the

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