RT, 7/24/23
President Vladimir Putin has shared his views on how Russia and Africa should unite their efforts in pushing for global “peace, progress, and a successful future,” in an article released ahead of the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.
1. Africa has “rightful place” in deciding the world’s fate
The Russian president said that Moscow’s relations with African states have “strong, deep roots and have always been distinguished by stability, trust and goodwill.” Moscow has “consistently supported African peoples in their struggle for liberation from colonial oppression” and “provided assistance in developing statehood, strengthening their sovereignty and defense capability,” he wrote. “We are sure that a new multipolar world order, the contours of which are already visible, will be more just and democratic.”
2. West hampers Russia’s supplies of food and fertilizers to Africa
Under the Black Sea grain deal, not only were none of the promises to exempt Russian grain exports from sanctions fulfilled, European countries even blocked Russia’s attempts to send fertilizers to African countries free of charge. According to Putin, more than 200,000 tonnes of fertilizers are “still unscrupulously held by the Europeans.”
3. Moscow can substitute Ukrainian grain
Over 70% of Kiev’s exports ended up in high-income countries, while the poorest nations received less than 3% of Ukrainian grain, according to Putin. Despite Western pressure, Moscow will continue to supply grain, food products, fertilizers, and other goods to Africa, “both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, especially as we expect another record harvest this year,” Putin said. In 2022 alone, Russia exported 11.5 million tonnes of grain to Africa, and almost 10 million more tonnes were delivered in the first half of 2023.
4. Developing full spectrum of ties with Africa
Moscow highly values and will continue to develop economic relations with Africa – both with individual states and regional organizations. Russia also wants to take humanitarian, cultural, sports, and mass media cooperation to a “whole new level to serve our common interests.” In education, Putin noted that Russia is helping African states to build their human resources capacity, noting that out of 35,000 African students in the country “more than 6,000 receive Russian government scholarships.”
5. Importance of the Russia-Africa Summit
The second Russia-Africa Summit will take place from July 27-28, alongside the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which is expected to provide a platform for business meetings and panel sessions. Forty-nine countries have confirmed their participation, and the Russian president expects that the participants will approve the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan. “We are working to prepare an impressive package of intergovernmental and inter‑agency agreements and memoranda with individual states as well as regional associations of the continent,” Putin said.