Russia plans to boost economic and military ties in Africa

Russia's growing security role in parts of the continent, including Mali, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea, is viewed with concern by the West, and has come at the expense of France and the US [File: AFP]

Russia is working to enhance its economic and military ties in Africa, Moscow has outlined.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared on Monday that Russia’s presence in Africa is “growing”. The move is part of an ongoing bid by Moscow to step into a geopolitical vacuum in West Africa as Western powers retreat amid a series of military coups in the region.