Russian firms expand transport, nuclear and mining projects in Africa despite Western sanctions
Russian companies including Yango, Rosatom and Nordgold are growing their operations across Africa in transport, nuclear energy and mining, according to The Africa Report, even as Western governments maintain sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russian companies are building out their business presence across Africa in a range of sectors, even as Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine remain in place.
According to The Africa Report, firms such as Yango, Rosatom and Nordgold are among those expanding operations on the continent. Their activities span transport services, nuclear energy‑related projects and mining.
Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, is advancing uranium‑related work, positioning itself in countries that are exploring nuclear energy or uranium extraction. Nordgold is active in mining, including gold projects. Yango, a transport and digital services platform, is extending its footprint in African markets.
For Moscow, these ventures provide revenue streams and a way to deepen ties with African governments in areas that range from raw materials to long‑term energy cooperation. The growth of such projects shows that, despite restrictions imposed after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian state‑linked and private firms can still secure contracts and operate in markets outside the sanctioning countries.
African governments engaging with these companies gain access to investment and technical expertise in infrastructure, power generation and resource extraction. At the same time, they have to navigate the political and financial risks that can come with closer alignment to a sanctioned state.
The evolution of these projects, and any new contracts Rosatom or Russian mining firms announce, will indicate how much room Russia still has to expand its economic role in Africa under current sanctions.
Sources
- OSINT