what are the potential challenges of establishing a free trade zone between Russia and Africa?
Establishing a free trade zone between Russia and Africa could face several potential challenges. Here are some of them: Political instability in Africa : Many African countries suffer from political instability, armed conflicts, and civil wars, which can disrupt trade and investment. For example, the war in Ukraine has disrupted Africa's promising recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by raising food and fuel prices, disrupting trade of goods and services, tightening the fiscal space, constraining green transitions, and reducing the flow of development finance in the continent 14 . Limited foreign direct investment from Russia : Russia accounts for just 1 percent of foreign direct investment into Africa, and its trade with Africa represents only 5 percent of the European Union's total trade with Africa and no more than 6 percent of China's total 11 . This lopsided trade relationship could discourage Russia from investing more in Africa, especially in countries with high p...