Need for Russia-Africa Interaction Becoming More Urgent: FM Sergey Lavrov

Addis Ababa October 25/2022 (ENA)Under today’s conditions of global turbulence caused by the neo-colonialist course of “the historical West” toward reaching world supremacy, the need for Russian-African interaction is becoming even more urgent, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

In his video address to the Second International Youth Forum, “Russia-Africa: What’s next?” yesterday, Lavrov said viewing Africa as a distinctive, dynamically developing continent of the future, we are consistently advocating the strengthening of its status in a multi-polar world arrangement.    

“We want the united and independent voice of Africans to be heard and considered in the international arena. The conditions for this to exist. The African states are confidently gaining political weight and achieving considerable success in the economy,” he noted.

According to him, Africa’s nominal GDP in the past decade has increased by 50 percent. Considering the recently created African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this trend will only gain momentum.

Highlighting that Russian-African relations are time-tested, the foreign minister said that “having not smeared its image with the bloody crimes of colonialism, our country has always sincerely supported the Africans in their fight against colonialist oppression. It provided them with comprehensive and largely gratis practical assistance.”

Today, one of the main priorities of Russia’s foreign policy is the strengthening of comprehensive partnership with the African nations, he stated.

Under today’s conditions of global turbulence caused by the neo-colonialist course of “the historical West” toward reaching world supremacy, the need for Russian-African interaction is becoming even more urgent, the minister stressed.  

“We are united by the rejection of the so-called ‘rules-based order’ that the former colonial powers are imposing on the world,” Lavrov noted.

Russia consistently advocates the democratization of international life and respect for the right of nations to determine for themselves the models of political and socio-economic development.

Accordingly, Russia greatly appreciates the fact that despite unprecedented and crude pressure, African friends, like the overwhelming majority of the international community, have not joined the anti-Russia sanctions but continue developing dialogue and cooperation with the nation. This independent line oriented towards national interests deserves great respect, Lavrov said.

The foreign minister told the youth that he is confident that the forum will make a useful contribution to “our common mission.”