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Africa, the new theatre of the Cold War and the loss of influence of the West

Mohamed Lamine KABA, February 04, 2025

The chains of neo-colonization and domination are breaking, redefining the continent’s geopolitical landscape. For the West, this dynamic sounds like a signal of the end of its hegemony and the decline of its influence in Africa.

China and Russia in Africa

In response to the policy of containment at the heart of Washington’s foreign policy and led by the collective West under the leadership of the United States since 1947, the rise of China and Russia in Africa constitutes a major strategic challenge to Western hegemony. Sharing, like Africa, the fact of suffering, differently of course, the dictates of the domination of the Western world, these two nations of the BRICS Alliance are strengthening their influence through massive investments in infrastructure, energy, defense, natural resources and technology. Surpassing the European Union as the continent’s main trading partners, China and Russia are solidifying their alliances within Africa, illustrating their determination to position themselves as the future emeritus powers on the continent’s chessboard. This rise highlights the failure of Western imperialist strategies in Africa, marked by a lack of vision and adaptation to local needs. As a result, Western influence is in irreversible decline, while the development models offered by new powers are gaining in appeal. Under penalty of seeing its presence completely eclipsed on the continent and no longer having the monopoly of strategic initiative on the global chessboard, it becomes vital for the West to recalibrate its policy, adopting a more humble and respectful approach to African sovereignty, in order to adapt to this new geopolitical dynamic.
With a promising and multipolar future, Africa embodies innovation, resilience and self-determination

Thus, the world is currently experiencing an unprecedented geopolitical revolution, marked by the collapse of the unipolar world order established since World War II. The West, historically “dominant”, is seeing its influence decline, particularly the United States, weakened by costly conflicts and massive debt. In this context, China and Russia are emerging as new world powers, led by the BRICS Alliance, which is undermining the bastions of Western imperialism. Currently, it is playing a central role in expanding the geopolitical and geostrategic influence of the Global South. China, with a flourishing economy and global ambitions, is expanding its commercial presence, while Russia, under the leadership of President Putin, is strengthening its geopolitical position with excellent multidimensional cooperation policies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Africa, a former Western playground, has become a vital stake for these emerging powers. With colossal investments in infrastructure and resources, China and Russia are seducing African nations through strategic partnerships that are perceived as respectful of sovereignty and mutually beneficial. Africa is turning to these new collaborations, freely choosing its partners and development models, thus marking a turning point that reduces Western influence and redefines the future of the continent.

The rise of China and Russia in Africa, a challenge to Western hegemony

The current dynamics in Africa are marked by the emergence of China and Russia as major powers, investing heavily in infrastructure, natural resources, and technology. These strategic investments, as mentioned above, are a direct challenge to Western hegemony on the continent. China, by strengthening its partnerships in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, has also increased its military presence, including the establishment of a naval base in Djibouti. At the same time, Russia is stepping up its efforts in the energy, security, and other sectors while building key alliances in the region. This new geopolitical situation, accompanied by the decline of Western influence, offers African countries increased autonomy to define their strategic partnerships and development models. This evolution towards a multipolar Africa, embodied by the growing influence of China and Russia, is redefining the future of the continent away from traditional Western interests.

The failure of the West’s African policy, a lack of vision and strategy

The West’s Africa policy since the earliest days of contact has neglected the real needs and aspirations of African peoples, favouring development and aid solutions that serve its own interests. This approach has eroded trust and cooperation, often relegating Africa to the status of a peripheral territory without strategic importance. African countries have found themselves treated more as subordinates than as equal partners, and uniform policies have been imposed, ignoring local cultural, historical and economic specificities. The consequences of this strategy are alarming: poverty, disease, famine and wars persist, while economic and social inequalities are increasing. The dependence of African economies on external aid persists. The West, lacking strategic vision, has failed to anticipate major developments such as the rise of China or the emergence of new regional powers. As a result, it is losing its influence to emerging powers that offer attractive development models. Africa’s future will now be shaped by its own people in partnership with these new actors, highlighting the irreversible decline of Western influence. This development, which today alarms the West, will leave it permanently behind.

The loss of Western influence in Africa, an irreversible decline

There is no doubt that Western influence in Africa is irreversibly capsizing, giving way to the growing attraction of development models and partnerships offered by China, Russia and other emerging powers within the global majority. The West’s inability to understand and respond to African aspirations, combined with self-centered development policies, has eroded African trust and cooperation. Furthermore, deeply immersed in the drunkenness of omnipotence, the West has failed to adapt to the continent’s transformations, such as the meteoric rise of China, the emergence of regional powers and demographic dynamics, thus missing the opportunity to anticipate and develop appropriate strategies. The West’s internal economic and political weaknesses, such as public debt, multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional stagnation, and social polarization, limit its ability to propose convincing solutions. Consequently, African countries are increasingly choosing their own development partners and models, while the West helplessly sees its leadership role diminish, realizing too late that its influence is capsizing under the impetus of the emerging powers of the Global South.

From the above, we can deduce that Africa is emerging as a dynamic power while the West is going through a transition phase towards decline. The era of Western hegemony in Africa is now a thing of the past, paving the way for a continent ready to forge its own destiny and write a new page in its independent history. With a promising and multipolar future, Africa embodies innovation, resilience and self-determination.

We can therefore predict that the new Cold War is beginning to take shape in Africa, with the key being the loss of influence of the West, a fan of oxymoron.

 

Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in geopolitics of governance and regional integration, Institute of Governance, Human and Social Sciences, Pan-African University

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