US Congress passing legislation to counter Russia’s influence in Africa

The US Congress is in the process of passing a bill to punish African countries and entities that support Russia.

The law, Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, was passed in April by the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress.

It is widely expected that the Senate, will pass the bill, and US President Joe Biden will sign it into law.

Experts in Africa say the law is intended to align Africa’s foreign policy with Washington and takes away decision-making authority from countries in the continent

Russia has been building key strategic military alliances in Africa in recent years, challenging US and French political and military influence in the continent.

From Libya to Nigeria, Ethiopia to Mali, Moscow has been building key strategic military alliances and an increasingly favorable public profile across Africa.

In the past year alone, Russia has signed military cooperation agreements with Nigeria and Ethiopia, Africa’s two most populous nations.

Russia has sought to offer an alternative to African countries that have grown disgruntled with Western “diplomatic partnerships,” which in reality are ploys to continue exploiting the continent.

Africa’s booming economies and population have created lucrative opportunities for international players, making the continent a hotbed of geopolitical competition over the past decade.

The International Monetary Fund found in 2019 that Africa had become the world’s fastest-growing region, with the World Economic Forum predicting its population would double to around 2.2 billion by 2050.

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