Putin: Russia is African continent's best partner, not ‘colonial’ West
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of dozens of African nations that Moscow was their best partner, accusing the ‘colonial’ West of still trying to exploit the continent’s resources. The Kremlin is hosting a two-day Russia-Africa Summit.
A summit with nearly two dozen African leaders opened in Moscow Wednesday, with the Kremlin describing their countries as “natural allies” against the West. The pledge came as attacks in the Black Sea linked to the conflict in Ukraine continue to disrupt exports of grain from both Russia and Ukraine. – ‘Neocolonialism’ – Putin also announced that Moscow planned to “localise” the production of “effective Russian medicines and vaccines” on the African continent, and noted that the number of African students in Russia had swelled 50 percent since 2020.
President John Mahama says Ghana is seeking to revive its historic ties with Russia, with energy cooperation, investment and economic relations expected to feature prominently in his engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking at the Russian Transport University ahead of his bilateral meeting with President Putin at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, President Mahama said the time had come to restore the longstanding solidarity between the two countries.
Russia plans to build own version of US billionaire’s satellite communications to help attack Ukraine Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk’s genius and said he was in touch with Starlink’s controlling shareholder as Russia develops its own satellite communications for its military to use against Ukraine. The Russian president, speaking at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, was comparing the Earth-orbiting network built by Musk’s SpaceX with Russia’s gradual efforts to build its own Rassvet constellation.
President John Mahama has arrived in Moscow, Russia, to participate in the Third Russia–Africa Summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, two Russian universities, the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, will separately confer honorary doctorate degrees on President Mahama at ceremonies in Moscow.
Speaking at the third Russia-Africa Summit, Putin frames Moscow as an alternative to former colonial powers.
Following its invasion of Ukraine and the resulting rift with the West, Russia has declared that it intends to make a "historic return" to Africa. What have we seen of this so far?