The Union in the Bundestag warns that Russia's influence in Africa has increased significantly in recent years. This is especially true with regard to disinformation and arms deliveries. The Greens agree that Germany must indeed invest more in Africa.
The Bundestag faction of the CDU and CSU wants to ask the federal government to react to the growing influence of Russia in Africa. The application, which is available to ntv, states that Russia's power in Africa has "increased significantly" in recent years. "Unlike China's engagement in Africa, this is often done covertly or subtly via proxies such as the Wagner mercenary group and its affiliated entities, which allow the Kremlin to deny direct interference and circumvent sanctions." , write the authors of the application, which include the Union parliamentary group leader and CDU chairman Friedrich Merz and CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt.
This development is a problem for German and European interests on the ground, the application goes on to say. Concrete examples are the brutal Russian actions in Mali or the Central African Republic, as well as the "undermining" of German and European development work.
The authors of the application also argue that the increasing Russian support for often autocratic regimes in Africa has "dramatic consequences for the local civilian population" in many cases: "So far, the federal government has not managed to come up with a clear and comprehensive strategic answer to this dilemma to give to our neighboring continent."
Specifically, the Union calls on the federal government to present a "coherent and cross-departmental" strategy on how to deal with Russia's influence in African countries. It must also be about combating disinformation. The "communicative field" - also with a view to the engagement of the Bundeswehr on the ground - should no longer be left to Russian actors. The Germany centers in Cairo, Pretoria and Dakar would also have to be encouraged to express themselves more in social and local media: "Where necessary, further resources should be made available for this."
The authors of the motion also point out that Russia has plans for more permanent military bases in Africa. However, one must prevent these from being successful. Germany must therefore agree on coordinated action with its allies "in order to weaken Russia's position as the largest arms supplier for African countries".
The energy partnership between Germany and African countries must in turn be strengthened and Africa's strategic support in agriculture must be promoted so that the continent becomes less dependent on Russian deliveries of grain and fertilizer.
The Green politician Anton Hofreiter, who is chairman of the Bundestag's Europe Committee, said on ntv: "Apart from the major climate crisis, we are also experiencing the struggle between democracy and autocracy all over the world. That's why we have to do more in Africa and invest than Germany and than Europe." The Greens politician criticized the Union: "If she was serious about it, she would say how to put it into practice."
