Paper short abstract:

Russia’s position in Africa is advantegeously unique in comparison to old and the new players in that it has a mixture of a historical presence in independent Africa cemented by ties to African elites and considerable experience, knowledge and skills needed for the fast developing African states.

Paper long abstract:

Russia's importance to the continent needs to be better understood especially with the growing attention to the BRICS and their increasing engagement in Africa.

Africa and Russia have a long history of friendship. In the context of growing interests of Russia - Africa relationship, together with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and a large commercial role in military cooperation, Russia's importance to the continent needs to be better understood both for the efficacy of the BRICS and a more contextualized assessment of its impact on African business development prospects:

Firstly, the history and the nature of Russian - African relations.

Secondly, the contemporary ambience for bilateral relations. The world order is undergoing significant changes. The BRICS format today attracts most attention and gets the main focus of undergoing processes of change. There is a process of power shift that must be acknowledged.

Thirdly, it is essential to understand current foreign policy principles of Russia. It is important to understand the current Russian imperatives on the world arena. The foreign policy doctrine as well as some recent events should be revised to estimate the place and role of Africa in Russian politics.

Moreover, the last few years of bilateral relations should go under revision to draw a conclusion on the nature and perspectives of development of bilateral initiatives in politics, business and culture as well as potential for the future development of partnership relations between Russia and the African continent, South Africa being a "gate" to the continent.