The Africa Dialogues The Institute for International Studies (IfIS) of MGIMO

In this episode I spoke with Artem Adrianov, researcher on Arab affairs, consultant to business on the region, as well as expert at the Institute for International Studies at MGIMO University and project manager at the Primakov Center for International Cooperation. Artem was the host of the hit Russian-language podcast “The Oriental Express” for the Primakov Center, is the author of the telegram channel “All is well in Dubai”, has authored articles for Forbes, Vedomosti and other top media outlets. He is also regularly featured in both Russian and international media.

Artem and I focused on the rising power of Gulf countries in Africa, what they are doing right and wrong, how their strategies enhance African development needs and why they are able to position themselves as key mediators for conflicts on the continent.

Timecodes:
4:09 Why the Gulf countries are interested in Africa today, their strategic goals
10:38 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' best practices in the region
18:12 The geographic and influence breakdown amongst GCC countries in Africa.
21:21 The “friendly regime” dilemma in providing support to African countries
24:52 How big is the African security issue for Gulf states?
26:55 Qatar's credibility as a mediator in conflict in Africa and beyond
29:56 Artem's vision for how Africa-Gulf relations will evolve over the short to medium term future

During this episode I spoke with Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher in the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Gustavo has over 15 years of experience supporting policy development, capacity building, and research processes in Africa, particularly in multilateralism and the relationship between African actors and external partners. Gustavo has worked with various international organisations, universities, and think tanks, including the United Nations in Guinea-Bissau, the University of Johannesburg, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), and Global Witness. Gustavo holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Brasilia and a Master's degree in African Studies from the University of Oxford.
During our conversation, we discussed the African expansion of BRICS, which countries made the cut and why and how the changes play into the general group dynamic. We also touched upon the economic opportunities opened up by BRICS, the possibility of trading in national currencies and why the group is on an upward trajectory.

Timecodes:
3:00 Gustavo's BRICS journey and areas of academic interest
5:02 The significance of the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa
9:48 The African expansion of BRICS: why Ethiopia and Egypt?
14:35 How South Africa lobbies for Africa. Other potential African BRICS candidates.
21:25 Is BRICS a group, club or organisation?
25:33 The African perception of BRICS
34:37 The key traits and ideas of the core BRICS members
47:21 What does joining BRICS give to the general public in Africa?
53:03 Is South Africa ready to share its stage/presence on the global arena?
57:33 What Gustavo feels when he thinks about the future of Africa

During this episode I spoke with Brian Mugabi, member of the Ugandan delegation at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit, Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at RUDN University and PHD candidate. Having both been at the event, Brian and I exchanged opinions and impressions from the event, ran over the key takeaways and compared the 2019 and 2023 formats. We also discussed how many heads of state came to the summit and whether or not that matters, why African countries are tired of being caught in political crossfire, which of Russia’s offerings appeal to Africans most and what Russia’s alternative security architecture solution for the continent looks like.

Timecodes:
3:55 The meaning of numbers. How many heads of state came to the summit and whether or not that matters.
8:40 Why your enemy should not be my enemy. Why Africa needs the right to chose its own partnerships.
10:14 The key expectations from the event, the Ugandan point of view
13:54 Russia’s alternative solution in terms of security architecture for Africa
16:08 What has been the role of major powers in Africa’s historical development course?
19:45 Africa can both cooperate with the West and have effective cooperation with Russia
20:30 Whether the Soviet legacy matters for the younger generation of Africans. The importance of knowing your national history and how you got to where you are today.
24:14 How the new emerging powers are providing an alternative sovereignty-focused model for Africa
31:13 Is free Russian grain for African enough to stabilise global prices and avoid a food-security meltdown?
33:57 The 2019 Summit VS 2023 Summit
39:53 Why most Africans and Russians learn about each other via Western media. The Summit as a space for unhindered dialogue.
43:15 More youth representation at the event
44:12 What Brian would like to see happen in the run-up to the next summit
47:19 Brian’s vision for the future of Russia-Africa and Russia-Uganda relations.

During this episode I spoke with Riverson Oppong, Commercial Manager in charge of Economic Modelling, Risk Management, and Policy Planning (ERP) at the Ghana National Gas Company, Adjunct Lecturer at Ghana Communication Technology University, Visiting Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and GIMPA, as well as Chairperson of the Ghana Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Riverson holds a Ph.D. in Economics, with particular focus on International Oil and Gas Management. In addition, he serves as an advisor to African governments in building more resilient energy strategies, currently playing dynamic roles in Ghana's Energy Sector Recovery Program and Energy Transition Technical Committee.
Riverson and I discussed the 3 key factors to cure energy poverty in Africa, why the AfCFTA and AU are not living up to their potential, how to ensure FDI serves local interests and why additional value chains can help Africans free themselves from the Dutch-disease curse.

Timecodes:
4:35 Fighting energy poverty in Africa and beyond by ensuring availability, affordability and accessibility
18:25 Why AfCFTA and AU progress is stalling
28:50 The importance of creating raw material value chains for Africa's economy
35:48 The cure to energy poverty: experimenting with new technologies, expanding the grid and using multiple energy sources
44:24 How to ensure foreign investors are creating value for Africans
49:29 The natural instinct of any human being is to go home: the causes behind Africa's massive brain drain
53:39 Riverson's vision for the future of Africa

During this episode I spoke to Zongxu Xie, researcher on African climate and water issues and joint PhD candidate at Tsinghua University and Oxford. Zongxu is actively involved in youth Belt and Road initiatives in Africa, took part in landmark Chinese infrastructure projects on the continent such as the Isimba Hydropower Station in Uganda, and makes regular visits to Africa, both for field research, as well as in the role of intermediary between Chinese and African youth and NGOs. His main areas of focus include climate change, hydrology and international relations. Zongxu and I spoke about why and what China is building in Africa, how local universities are supporting Chinese and African business ventures, ways to make social impact when running projects on the continent and why the Chinese and African stories have more in common than you'd think.

Timecodes:
3:17 The Belt and Road Initiative in Africa
4:10 China's role at the primary infrastructure giant
5:21 There's always space for partnership amongst great powers on the continent
7:39 Why hydropower is key to Africa's energy security
8:43 Building the Isimba Hydrostation in Uganda
10:34 Key hurdles in Africa's leap for energy security
14:56 Business incubators for Chinese and African ventures
16:31 About the project BRI Trip and BRI Talk
19:38 Zongxu's area of research
20:20 Field trips to Africa
21:42 China-Uganda relations
23:44 Zongxu's vision for the future of China-Africa relations

This episode was recorded under the MGIMO University development programme “Priority 2030”

During this episode I spoke to Daria Labutina, journalist covering Russia’s big “Return to Africa” and member of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s journalist pool, author of the Telegram channel “Africa for Dummies”. Daria has been covering all things Africa for federal news agencies, having interviewed the prime-minister of the Central African Republic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali, as well as ambassadors to Russia from other countries of the region. She has also interviewed Russian ambassadors to Angola and the Central African Republic. Perhaps most importantly, she joined and covered the visits of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov to Africa in 2022 and 2023.
During the episode, Daria and I spoke about how Russia is building its PR strategy in Africa, how the high-level Africa visits went, why many Africans still speak Russian and whether or not the soviet legacy on the continent still matters.

Timecodes:
2:53 Why everyone is talking about Africa
3:54 The year 2022 changed everything
5:46 Self perception and historical relations
7:26 Going to Africa with Foreign Minister Lavrov
11:28 Does the Soviet legacy in Africa still matter?
13:44 Interest in Africa VS actual financial opportunities
16:11 Russia’s PR strategy in Africa
19:06 Moving from growing influence to increasing trade
21:26 Why Russia needed to work with Africa from scratch
25:46 Russian chocolate on African markets

This episode was recorded under the MGIMO University development programme “Priority 2030”