lation of human rights. your oft 15 at this stage, would you want to be married? no, because of being a girl child, i believe, to say there is more to life than getting married at the very young age. most is being done to fight this cool practice. the 77 percent in 60 minutes on dw, or sports, all of our scoring we say they were about never giving up sports flies every weekend on dw the and this is data of the news africa coming up on the program, free weights and free weapons. president bush and pharmacist, 2 key takeaways for african visas at his russia, africa summit. but what does he won 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. now he's the russian orthodox grocer. and come to northern donna with the traditional annual fire festival intimately as people drumming and dancing or not the hello. i'm christine. wonder, it's good to have your company let him. it puts in russia effort. this summit in st . petersburg is the 2nd time he's invited. applicant lead is to meet him on home turf and his 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 cooperation on trade, science and technology. i'll be talking to an analyst about what all this means. often this reports, the russia, 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, seen for war crimes, and internally with the instability of a failed mutiny by the lead of the wagner private army. despite all this african heads of state fly and 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 baldwin 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 continue to be cosy, especially with south africa. russia gave deliberation, opened 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. these arms sales are seen as giving russian significant political leverage to its customers. and then that's the most new group. ok, now it's active and molly central african republic, libya and so don prepping up autocratic regimes and exchange for natural resources like gold. it is accused of operating with overprotected to committing mass 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 operations in africa rushes, withdrawal from the black sea drain deal has pushed up global foot prices. this is expected to hit east africa, the hottest if you'll, p,

a 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 chem and most of hockey mohammed, lamenting that the war between russia and ukraine was making africa's food crisis was responding to applicant, calls austin, keys and must go to in the conflict, puts and said he would look at an african peace proposal in the russian liter rejected as hypocritical accusations by the west that the criminal display in quote, hunger games on thursday to put the knowledge between green supplies is up to 6 african nations just 10 days off to pharaoh. king exports from ukraine by quitting the black sea green deal and to toll on pressure relations with africa. we've invited america onto onto the program. she is head of africa practice for your

racial group. i'm not going joins me from washington. welcome to these are be news, africa, america. why is russia giving away green for free? or what are we to start the conversation, christine, look, i think they're doing. that's because there's a propaganda war that both sides are fighting. 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 food insecurity in the global south america. let's come back to, to the summit. we know that on the 17 heads of states attended the summit. this time for a few of them. the 1st time is in 20. 19 laska blames the us were putting pressure on african leaders not to attend. what do you make off the fact that most african need is didn't actually make the trip to russia and sent 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 wall seemed 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 . and 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 blood, him and pushing and his will, stays in africa, isn't one of mutual respect or yeah, so look, you know, we got it, but it's different depending on the country, right?

so, so many southern african countries to relationship with russia has historical links . the soviet union was one of the only is 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 also about in a bind no costs cost effective arms are, you know, as you know, there's a lot of chad his movements and insecurity in this a hell 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. and 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, keep in options open and also and not upset in china. so how then would you come

pay? rush at the other big power is like china that you've just mentioned. the us collects if you're in africa, a brush size at the bottom of the totem pole. and china is many of these countries largest trading partner by 5. and if you look upset africa, for example, there's been a lot of focus on said africa, you know, appearing open to host imputes in the reality is that even though many of the people in power instead africa do have a lot of goodwill towards russia. because russia supported the agencies with racial movement, the think the primary thing has drive in that ask because for impulse it today is that it's 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 buckle 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 where russia has the strongest. and perhaps the most obvious to 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 is even reaching into the central african republic churches, dw, use, simple to try to many reports. now what the us getting 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 buys on time orthodox judge to the russian version. last oldest. 5 months of published an invalid ukraine. the invasion has shut them to international concerns about russian influence in countries like the central office and republic,

including fire institutions like the church to don't you also think that there is some form of huge rush of influence in the central african republic. literally, schools 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 vic lover, ca, if we deal with or kim, you old last fall, the opponent bridges print in the russian orthodox liturgy in most go. the church is sponsored by the church and soon to central african republic. seminarians would follow him through saint petersburg for study. it's thought a quarter of people into central african republics copied over by d. a members of the russian orthodox church converts from the roman catholic church

himself, but 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 and shows the way are said real things that i did not mazda before. when most of it is now that my eyes begin to open, to know the twos and the right path. just as a rush on private army, the but the group products president 1st the across the board, there are a stop to do its soldiers watches over the center of the capital city. people here in buying, he want to speak criticality about rush of influence or actions. idea to good all the appreciate the reality of quite mean i could quote you on a learning, 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 of this russian orthodox church, we feel that there is a russian influence in our country called up to

a safe. this influence can bring a security peace and development in our country. then this is want all central africans want what's called let's see. so i beta single, single, you know, in this country we just leave through tickets of was this, these are all for a new beginning. is white sprayed for those who are on looks, offering it much less who runs security, all the churches related stability, maybe in of a market. is russia offering countries like the central african republic? a solution with other countries have failed? no, no. um the wagner prints that presence 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, is offering something that is particularly valuable. and again, visa outliers, i know, you know, we often tend to, um, kind of characterize the confidence by a few like the outliers that the see are the king of foster the might be there. in my view, a minority writes, 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 downplay 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 of spokes estimate about russia as footprints.

and i'm trying 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 that 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 they 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'm not, i'm skeptical of you know, over speed and rushes that ability to spread the culture on this lines in the region. all right, 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. i 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 served 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 feldman soldiers

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, the news africa. how has the wagner group managed to get into the countries where it has a presence but it has been fined 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 cents after 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 can probably say, that's why here has been most successful in the central african republic because it has sort of stretches a large needed for of economic interest. political influence,

a media influencing as well as security assistance. and the security systems was training as well as try to remo groups in the internet itself, the country as sort of the whole package 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 fairly in control of its own political and military strategy, and why community serves as a security provider to the national army actually heard in our report, bullying 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 or some teach bosis or article public and then uh, in money. this in full start to think of civilians are both summary executions.

it has to come back. it has boots on the ground, so it's come back saying insurgencies as a both central african public. and molly, it's kind of hard to assess what people who come directly into contact with whitening, come back troops feel about its feel about their presence and how to use it. so we've heard in molly that people have turned against water to some extensive areas where it's corporate and on the grounds. whereas in the account for obama codes, people are still quite positive about the work to influence because they don't see or self or do you trust these directly? since i heard public is a different case because markers been very successful, rolling out a propaganda campaign. it owns a radio station way, another for versus narratives are being distributed. and in the capital there seems

to be quite a lot of support. full bladder, which is seen as russia basically are. these 2 are interchangeable, if you will, where is we have very um this will access to people on the countryside to have been a victim of wonder and uses. so it's really, it's very mixed picture. it's not clear call 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 interaction is as well it's, it's the main focus seems to be gold mining because gold is easy to smuggle out and a very valuable cuz he um, gets involved in looking especially central african republic and it has encroached 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 to damage really may gold mining or

the successfully it isn't a gold processing business and can't really say that these are very unusual to rush . so what do you think like that's, that's what this type of sell financing crew to comes in and offer certain surfaces if you will. and it's been a fantastic um to, to projects rushing influence and rashid power and to project gotcha. as an invalid, 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 from the point to me, friends, it's not really quite the case in the molly, but it's even though the number of troops directly number of what the troops on the ground is not in the world, was the search the russia is projecting its influence all across the region. and it's actually present 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 provision? 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 while he yourself is such as it won't make any difference. d rushing for minister has said that right there, a ration in africa will continue. it will be business as usual. and some of the leaders of also set that nothing really will change. we've seen since the public at the number of likely troops has actually increased rather than decreased. yeah, so we expect to see so basically continue because it's very use, its presence is very useful for the criminal and it says different set up doesn't mean the presence that 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, so that's also reports from the smoking streets of the time i live in growth and gone. lie to me in touch of to or should in the new media these on the lot of fire place to buy lights up, the 9th, across nothing done for the people here. these 1st of all is the high points of the traditional column that we are. so happy no sleep tonight, we will celebrate to daybreak. this is our tradition. and we spent our lights going up, observing it everybody, including the muslims,

they will be out to celebrate today. that's why you would seeing masses of people that are out today. cheering and exciting this past life if for some reason it comes from the chief, the oral history says the festival, it requires how worry is waned in search of the missing greens. people suspect i was told that maybe i know it was on my own. so we had some on the communities such as the beer for me to come out and fish for the guy got tonight because he thought he'd been 9 hearts advisors to talk to search for the home for the job.

nice high you for you. leave it on by dr. mean, display must country the will to minute believe it's a ration is a challenge to seek 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 which is foreclose soon it's gone. next would you have to it's the condition says the please was found sleeping on a tree which had to be cruel, yet torches into the branches before retaining to the police. then let's get some way to avoid you see that the bits was due for a war like the comment outside the time. now your blue book chip binds to guns. that's the 5th of to briefly, doctor's appointment for the 1st 2 bottles. how sick if i use been once again the condition that was due to me just ask me good,

allowing me to leave true to come in here with health and profile spectacular stuff. 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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5th to see the newest lar from by then join international. the isolation foundation at the european union got the financial and security torres over the coal, which offset the elective president process as it will not recognize the general who has the cat himself for new leader. and ukraine says it has to be taken. ok, but let's from josh.