The Brics summit, which brings together the member countries of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, is being held this year in Johannesburg. The event features the theme of Africa, which attracts interest from many African countries. No less than thirty African leaders have announced their participation, thus showing the importance attached to this meeting.
This highlighting of Africa by the Brics has a double interest. On the one hand, for South Africa, the host country, this demonstrates its leadership in the creation of an alternative forum to global institutions dominated by Western countries. On the other hand, for the members of the BRICS, it offers them the opportunity to show African countries that they have a place where they can express their views and their interests, in opposition to the current multilateralism perceived as being in the grip of western countries.
The high number of African countries present at this summit is explained by the current context. The Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine have strengthened the ties between the countries of the South, creating a non-aligned alliance in the face of Western domination. Moreover, the management of vaccines against Covid-19 has been perceived as unfair in many African countries and the Global South, thus increasing interest in an alternative forum such as the BRICS.
However, membership applications from some African countries and other countries around the world raise questions about the criteria for entry into this group. The Brics are both an economic and political club, and the heterogeneity of the current members raises the question of cohesion and common objectives. The differences between China and India over the expansion of the group are a clear example of this.
In terms of benefits for Africa, it seems that the gains are mainly political and communication. Participating in this summit allows African leaders to show that they have partners beyond the West, thus strengthening their position on the international scene. Economically, it is still difficult to measure the real benefits of BRICS membership, even for member countries such as South Africa.
In conclusion, the Brics summit highlighting Africa arouses strong interest from African countries. However, membership applications and differences between current members raise questions about the cohesion of the group and its common objectives. However, participation in this summit offers African leaders an opportunity to strengthen their political position and show their diversity of partnerships beyond the West