... due to internal political instability, can also be included in the list of the most promising BRICS member states from the African continent.
Table 1: African claimants to joining the BRICS: the size of economies and population numbers
Algeria
Egypt
Nigeria
Senegal
Sudan
Ethiopia
GDP (USD million)
165,548
405,911
459,031
27,511
25,976
96,280
GDP growth (% per annum)
+4.4
+4.1
+2.95
+6
+0.1
+3.2
Population (million)
44.18
109.26
213.4
16.88
45.66
120.28
Source: compiled by the authors on the basis of UNCTAD data ...
... Angola in the case of China; and East African countries in the case of India. It would seem that the Russian leadership is being cautious in this respect and is looking into the possibility of forming two test groups: large African countries (Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa) and a group of unstable Sahel states (the Central African Republic and Sudan). Time will tell whether this approach can help Russia come up with an African strategy [
13
].
In the end, diversifying its foreign political and trade contacts is a priority for Russia in the current situation. Now is the perfect time for Russia ...