The mission to increase Russian influence on the continent is being led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman based in St Petersburg who is a close ally of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. It allows Moscow to expand “across the continent”, and Russian companies to strike lucrative mineral deals, the documents say. A railway could be built linking Dakar in Senegal with Port Sudan in Sudan, along the “old hajj [pilgrimage] route”. Documents suggest Russian plan to sway South Africa election Read moreOne working paper is titled “African world”. One policy paper, titled “Russian influence in Africa”, says Moscow needs to find “reliable partners among African states” and should establish military bases.

Source: The Guardian June 11, 2019 11:26 UTC