The US and former colonial powers – Britain and France – have been losing influence in Africa in recent years, while Russia and China have been expanding their presence in the region, The Times writes.

“Russia’s growing influence highlights changing relationships on the world’s fastest growing continent (Africa). In recent years, the US and former colonial powers Britain and France have ceded their positions to China, Russia and smaller players such as Turkey and the Gulf states,” the newspaper notes.

The newspaper also stresses that Russia can expect more support in Africa, which “has long been the playground of the great powers”, at the international level, above all at the United Nations.

At the US-Africa summit in December, US President Joe Biden “tried to entice African heads of state” to side with the West. However, the publication notes that the new round of the battle for Africa “may already be lost” in view of the expanding presence of Russia and China in the region.

The US-Africa summit was attended by the heads of state and government of 49 African countries as well as a representative of the African Union. Several countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Sudan, which had earlier experienced coups – were not invited to the three-day meeting. Eritrea, which has no diplomatic relations with the US, was not at the forum. The leaders of Zimbabwe and South Africa had earlier announced their refusal to travel for various reasons.

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