Egypt and Ethiopia participated in the BRICS summit for the first time after expanding their membership.
The alliance, which initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has gradually expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
At the BRICS closing meeting held in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that all countries participating in the bloc “share similar aspirations and values and a vision of a new democratic world order.” “I am doing so,” he said.
The three-day summit, which concluded on Thursday, also provided a platform for member countries to discuss plans to deepen financial cooperation and develop alternatives to Western-led payment systems.
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Africa’s position in BRICS expansion
Many experts say the expansion of the BRICS group will help African countries change their place in the world.
“In fact, we are seeing many African countries joining in. Africa wants a new world power that will crush the existing world powers, some for various reasons such as (improving the economy and trade). “There are some countries that are willing to participate,” said political analyst Dr. Michael Ndimancho. Cameroon’s Douala University told DW.
Congo situation analyst AL Kitenge Lubanda told DW that other natural resource-rich countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) need to join BRICS to reap its many benefits. He said there is.
“Being part of a bigger whole is a realizable ambition,” Rubanda said. “You know, the strategic materials I’m talking about today – cobalt, coltan, zinc, and all the other mining materials that make China so powerful today – come from the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Although Africa has long had relationships with the West, Western influence has declined somewhat in the past few decades due to the rise of China and Russia, two major members of the BRICS.
Some analysts say South Africa’s accession to BRICS gives hope to many African countries that they can become part of the new global power.
Many of Putin’s BRICS allies seek detente in the Ukraine war that began in February 2022 Image: Themba Hadebe/AP Photo/picture Alliance
What will BRICS offer Africa?
“BRICS is bringing new dynamics that Africans haven’t seen in a while. Remember, what Africans are dealing with is an old system: slavery, slave trade, colonialism, It is a system that they have come to know through imperialism and so on,” Ndimancho said. Said.
He said South Africa values friendly relations with Moscow.
“We continue to view Russia as a valued ally and dear friend who has supported us from the beginning, during the fight against apartheid,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The president spoke during a bilateral meeting with President Putin on the eve of 2019. Summit.
Ndimancho said Russia and China have made a convincing case for Africa to reposition itself in building a new world order, thanks to attractive offers in bilateral trade agreements. said.
“Russia has a lot of proposals for Africans, and I think they’ve done well in some countries like Egypt with energy and gas plants,” he said, adding that “Russia has a lot of proposals for Africans, and I think they’ve done well with energy and gas plants,” adding that “Russia’s El Dabaa nuclear power plant, which is called You mentioned power plants. The largest Russian-Egyptian cooperation project since the 1950s.
“In Nigeria and some of these countries, we have seen examples of how China wants to work,” Ndimancho added.
“And China is luring Africa with the fact that they are not coming with colonial tendencies, they are coming to do business. They are offering an economy that Africa badly needs. There is.”
BRICS leaders discuss dollar alternative
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The past decade has seen an increase in commercial and strategic engagement between Africa and the BRICS countries, which are Africa’s largest trading partners and new investors.
“BRICS entering Africa now is about showing the world system that (member states) can do business on a level playing field,” Ndimancho said.
“No European Union has ever proposed to include African countries in a partnership. BRICS’ entry into Africa is an example of the sincerity of China, Russia and our partners.”
Risks of African countries joining BRICS
These opportunities also come with other risks, including unfavorable trade deals that undermine African manufacturing and productivity.
“China pays less[in terms of import duties]and the situation is the same across Africa. China is able to ship its products to Africa with almost no imports, but this reduces local production and exports. “Africa is in decline and is currently stuck at consumption level,” Ndimancho warned.
Africa has already launched a Continental Free Trade Platform to boost the economies of African countries. However, there are concerns that growth could be harmed if Africa is compromised by BRICS expansion.
“But African (countries) cannot all go to BRICS. First and foremost, they should be able to do business together. We have regional blocs, and some of those blocs actually Some countries are even suffocating.
But Rubanda said African countries could join BRICS while strengthening all other geopolitical relationships, both within the continent and with the West.
“We can join BRICS and maintain geopolitical relations with Western countries without any problems,” he said.
“And this is the case today. We have managed to have a certain freedom to do a certain number of activities with some people and other activities with other people. And this freedom I think it should be respected by everyone.”
Editor: Keith Walker
