China and Russia's Growing Influence in Africa: Insights from the Brics Summit

The Brics summit, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is being held in Sandton, South Africa, with a sense of pride and unease. South Africa, grappling with economic uncertainty, is steering away from the West and aligning itself with China and Russia. The African National Congress (ANC) government's inconsistent response to Russia's actions in Ukraine has strained its relationships with the West. Meanwhile, Russia is using the summit to showcase its strategic diplomacy and present itself as an alternative to Western influence in Africa, gaining traction among countries frustrated with the status quo. The lack of a Western equivalent to Brics and the perception of former colonial powers treating Africa as a crisis to be managed rather than a partner to be supported have contributed to Brics' growing influence on the continent.