Abstract
The article reveals the state of modern Russia's relations with African countries, focuses on the importance and relevance of the Soviet experience in the region and willingness of African countries authorities to provide preferences to Moscow. It is noted that Africa at the turn of XX-XXI centuries is the subject of economic rivalry like between the former metropolitan countries and the new political factors like the US and China. In this regard Russia as the legal successor of the Soviet Union could use the potential accumulated during the Soviet period, taking into account the fact that the African states still maintain a positive image of the Soviet Union as a country that has made a decisive contribution to the liberation of the continent from colonialism. The author defines the prospects of further cooperation of Russia with the countries of Africa, especially in the economic, military and political spheres.