Russia is trying to strengthen relations with countries in Africa in the shadow of increased isolation from Western countries after the invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, the Kremlin wants to appear as a champion in efforts to break what Moscow calls Western dominance in world politics.
"Our country will provide our African friends with total support in several areas," said Putin in a speech read out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Putin not present
Putin was not present at the conference in the resort town of Sochi on the Black Sea, where he himself is said to have palace-like properties. In the read-out speech, Putin stated that Russian relations with Africa have strengthened in recent years. Putin also wanted to emphasize the idea of a "multipolar" world where Moscow is one of the powerful bastions of world politics.
The vision was presented at the Brics meeting in Kazan, Russia last month, where heads of state and government and representatives from China, South Africa, India, and Brazil met with leaders from a large number of other countries.
Old friends
However, this weekend's meeting in Sochi focused on many of the African countries that had close cooperation with the former Soviet Union. Several of them also have direct military cooperation with Russia and the former paramilitary group Wagner, which has been incorporated into the Russian state apparatus.
Several African countries, including Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, have broken off contacts with former cooperation partners such as France and instead sought military and economic support from Russia. Moreover, Russian companies have significant interests in, among other things, the mining industry and oil industry in countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Russia is not a colonial power and has never been one. On the contrary, one stands shoulder to shoulder with African peoples to get rid of the colonial yoke, said Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop at the meeting.
Moreover, Russia can provide military support. Russia exported military equipment worth approximately 50 billion kronor to African countries last year, according to the state-owned company Rosoboronexport.
