Nairobi: Russia's push to find allies amidst its invasion of Ukraine has led to the hosting of the second Russia-Africa Summit, with food security and Wagner's military group being key topics of discussion. One of the countries that Russia seeks to appeal to is Kenya, despite its longstanding security partnership with the United States. Moscow's ambassador to Kenya, Dmitry Maksimychev, blamed the US and EU for the collapse of a grain deal between Russia and Ukraine and accused them of weaponizing food.

The summit is significant as nearly 50 African nations, heavily reliant on Moscow for agricultural products and security, are expected to attend. Africa's 54 nations constitute the largest voting bloc at the United Nations, and how they perceive Russia's outreach during the summit could impact their relationship with the country. If African nations feel unheeded, they may distance themselves from Russia, signaling a decisive moment for Putin's government in its engagement with the continent.

Food security is a pressing concern, and Putin pledged to offer free grain to low-income African countries after the termination of the Ukrainian grain deal. However, the future of the Wagner military group, which operates in Africa in exchange for natural resources like gold, remains uncertain. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has assured that Wagner's activities in Africa will continue.

The summit could also address the peace proposal for Ukraine, which African leaders have attempted to pursue. Putin has visited sub-Saharan Africa only once during his lengthy tenure, and there was debate over his attendance at an economic summit in South Africa due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine conflict.

Despite Africa's high profile in Russia's diplomatic agenda, the country invests relatively little in the continent. In 2019, Putin promised to double trade with Africa within five years, but progress has been slow. Russia's engagement with African nations on issues like homosexuality and shared views on traditional values could be seen as an advantage over the West, particularly when appealing to countries like Nigeria and Ghana.

African countries are becoming increasingly assertive on the global stage, and Russia seeks to capitalize on this by fostering alliances with influential nations like Ethiopia, Congo, Nigeria, and Senegal. Moscow aims to appeal to African nations' distaste for feeling dictated to by global powers, much like China's approach.

The US has also shown interest in Africa, hosting its own Africa summit and recognizing Africa's potential as the world's fastest-growing demographic and economic power. African nations are encouraged to leverage their position to benefit from competing powers and avoid being caught in proxy wars.

As the summit unfolds, it remains to be seen how African nations will respond to Russia's outreach and whether it will lead to strengthened alliances or further divisions. The issue of food security, the future of Wagner's military group, and discussions about Ukraine's peace proposal are among the critical topics that will shape the outcomes of the summit.