Russia-Africa Summit Kicks Off
The meeting is seen as strategically important for Russia to reassure its allies on the continent and strengthen its partnerships, especially in the areas of security and economic cooperation. Commercial exchanges between Russia and Africa remain relatively weak, raising questions about Russia’s actual engagement with the continent.
African leaders are convening a summit in St. Petersburg, seeking concrete promises from Russian President Vladimir Putin on grain supplies. President Vladimir Putin is expected to discuss Ukraine with a group of African leaders during a working dinner. The meeting comes after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea agreement, leading to a surge in global wheat prices.
The summit will see 17 African heads of state speaking. According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, 49 out of 54 African countries will participate in the summit, with 17 confirmed to be represented by their heads of state. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Putin after the multilateral summit. leaders from Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat will have bilateral meetings.
Last month, President Ramaphosa visited President Putin with other African leaders to present a peace plan for Ukraine, but the proposals were largely dismissed by Kyiv. Russia’s actions, including quitting a deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain safely from its ports on the Black Sea, have raised concerns about food shortages in Africa, prompting discussions about grain shipments from Russia to the continent.
According to Sputnik, President Vladimir Putin will make a significant statement during the summit, assessing the current state of international relations and advocating for a new world order based on multipolarity and equality. However, RT France highlights that the Kremlin has denounced unprecedented Western pressure on African states, accusing Western missions of attempting to prevent the representation of African states at the summit.
The meeting is seen as strategically important for Russia to reassure its allies on the continent and strengthen its partnerships, especially in the areas of security and economic cooperation. Commercial exchanges between Russia and Africa remain relatively weak, raising questions about Russia’s actual engagement with the continent.
Nevertheless, African officials’ presence at the summit could have crucial implications for security and economic negotiations. The summit is attracting the attention of African countries, with leaders positioning themselves to explore business opportunities and enhance relations with Russia.
