Russian President, Vladimir Putin on Sunday, plugged the country’s total support for Africa at a high-level conference held in Sochi, a picturesque Black Sea resort city.
In a speech delivered by Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, Putin emphasized that Russia would continue to back its African partners in a wide range of sectors.
“Our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors,” Putin stated, underscoring the breadth of Russia’s involvement in Africa. He specifically mentioned areas where Russia could offer assistance, including “sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters.”
These remarks came during a gathering of foreign ministers and senior officials from across Africa, signaling Moscow’s deepening ties with the continent.
This event, which took place over the weekend, follows two previous Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023, further solidifying the relationship between the two regions.
Lavrov took the opportunity to highlight the strengthening of Russia-Africa relations, noting that the ties are becoming “more and more” robust. “We see progress on all axes” of cooperation, he said, reflecting the growing partnership.
The conference was also a platform for Russia to promote its vision of a “multipolar world,” a concept the country has been pushing aggressively, especially after hosting the BRICS summit of major emerging economies just a month earlier.
This was part of Russia’s broader effort to assert its global influence, despite facing Western sanctions in response to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Historically, Russia has been a significant player in Africa, especially during Soviet times, and over the past few years, its influence has been steadily growing once more.
This resurgence is not just through diplomatic channels but also via private military contractors and substantial investments in Africa’s raw materials sector, further cementing its role in the continent’s development and security landscape.
