Russia has to acknowledge the difference between illusions and realities in the geopolitical games. It has to recognize and thoroughly analyse, and manage the current economic rivalry and competition among foreign players across Africa. It has, over these several years, been making steps to uplift or broaden economic cooperation inside Africa. In late June, Interfax News Agency reported, sourcing Roscosmos Head Yury Borisov that Russia would sign full-scale space cooperation agreement with Africa during July summit. “We are touring African states ahead of this forum (Russia-Africa) and have agreed with the colleague from the Egyptian agency to draft a full-scale…
Author: Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
The United States, acting through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, has committed more than $14 billion in humanitarian and development assistance since June 2022 in more than 47 countries to address the global food security crisis exacerbated by Putin’s brutal and unprovoked war on Ukraine. Putin allegedly violated Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty. His troops have devastated the economy and killed several thousands of civilians including children while thousands more were forced to flee the country. In addition, the war has created global instability. USAID Administrator and Feed the Future Global Coordinator, Ms Samantha Power, during her working visit…
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has indicated that a comprehensive declaration would be signed at the two-day African leaders’ summit at Expoforum, July 27 -28, in St. Petersburg. More than half of the 55 African leaders have confirmed their participation, as always to listen to speeches full of anti-Western rhetorics, Soviet-era debts write-offs, new additional bilateral agreements and finally pose for memorable group photographs. Final preparations are underway for the second Russia-Africa summit. More than half of the participating countries will be represented at the highest level. A major declaration is being prepared on plans for cooperation between Russia and…
The African Union (AU) plans to create the Great Museum of Africa (GMA) as part of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063. The GMA will showcase, protect and promote the rich cultural heritage of the continent, and will be situated in Algiers, capital of Algeria in North Africa. This AU project aims at creating awareness about Africa’s vast, dynamic and diverse cultural artifacts in areas such as art, music, language and science. It will also be a focal centre for preserving and promoting the African cultural heritage as well as in combating illicit trafficking in heritage resources. Ambassador…
The internal disagreements and possibly deep-seated dissatisfaction between Russia’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Wagner Group leader over the ‘special military operation’ are aspects of the the geopolitical chess game. The unsuccessful military fight between MoD, the Kremlin and Wagner Group, at least, somehow ended without direct clashes, bloodshed or civilian casualties. But there were potential conditions to resort into something disastrous which officials have referred to as “armed mutiny”, a resemblance of the current political-military conflict in the Republic of Sudan. A short comparative analysis shows an element of commonality between Russia and Sudan, the fact that Kremlin signed…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa may underestimate the widespread media attacks inside his domain about the last round-trip intended to broker peace between two warring former Soviet republics, Russia and Ukraine. Both shared geographical borders and down the years since the Soviet’s collapse have unreservedly claimed to be observing the international laws relating to their territorial integrity and political sovereignty as recognized by the United Nations. Russia declared ‘special military operation’ on Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The State Duma and Federation Council, representing the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, approved it. However, did the Security Council of…
The Paris Summit on new global financing pact offers some hope for Africa’s development within the context of the geopolitical changes and competition on the continent because extensive investments are needed across various sectors, especially in modernizing its agricultural sector to increase production and value chain. Increasing agricultural production will help ensure food security and supply necessary raw materials for the industry. The regular collection of raw materials also adds the required value to commodities, thus making them ready for distribution across the continent. This will effectively support establishing a single continental market and promote intra-African trade. With the rapid…
Kyiv forms Ukrainian-African Trade Mission The former Soviet republic of Ukraine, despite its current war conditions perpetuated by neighbouring Russia, has prioritized Africa in its foreign policy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has already undertaken two official tours of African countries. Ukraine has cordial working relations with the continental organization, the African Union. An objective that has been set to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is to broaden Ukraine’s presence in Africa, Kuleba said. During the last Africa Day held on May 25, Kuleba strongly reiterated that Ukraine would engage, in a constructive directions, with Africa. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba in…
* Official documents show there has been a great interest in the further development of relations between Africa and Russia. * Priority areas of economic cooperation in which concrete results could be achieved in the coming years were outlined. * 92 agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding were signed at the Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum. Russia has a long time-tested relationship with Africa. After the first symbolic Russia-Africa summit in the Black Sea city of Sochi in October 2019 both Russia and Africa adopted a joint declaration, a comprehensive document that outlines the key objectives and necessary tasks that…
African Mediators Present 10-Points Peace Initiative to Vladimir Putin On June 17, 2023, Vladimir Putin received heads of delegations of African states Mediators in the Constantine Palace. Located outside St. Petersburg, the former capital city of Russia, the Konstantinovsky Palace was a residence of the Romanov imperial family and now hosts official events, including international ones. The group included the Chairperson of the African Union, President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani. President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, President of the South Africa Republic; Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema; Prime Minister of the Arab…
The African peace mission on Russia-Ukraine crisis comprised four presidents: President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, the head of the Mediation Group. The current Chairman of the African Union (AU) and President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani; President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall and President of the Republic of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema. The mission was also expected to include the leaders of Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Egypt was represented by the country’s prime minister, President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni was diagnosed with the coronavirus right before…
Russia and Algeria Open A New Chapter For Bilateral Cooperation Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his delegation visited Russia, from June 14 through 16, to forge strategic partnership between the two countries. He went to Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This special invitation had been conveyed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Algiers in May last year with the aim of strengthening relations of “friendship and cooperation” between the two countries. Some Algerian media have criticized the visit amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Algerian leader brought an extensive ministerial delegation to attend the…
Understandably, Moscow has embarked on soliciting full-fledged support for its ‘special military operation’ in neighbouring Ukraine by offering ‘no-cost delivery’ of grains and fertilizers promised by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has reiterated the free deliveries of grains and fertilizers to ear-deafening applause during the last inter-parliamentary conference Russia-Africa held in March. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made this one of the core content of his speech during his last trip to South Africa through Kenya to Burundi and Mozambique in southern Africa. Malawi and Kenya have recieved their consignments. Moscow intends to deliver a shipment of Russian fertilizers to Nigeria…
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune would head an extensive ministerial delegation to visit Russia from June 14 through 16 to forge the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Le Jeune Independent news portal reported at the weekend. The report indicated that the president’s delegation expected to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The forum will take place on 14–17 June 2023 at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the Russian Federation. Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled during the visit. The two presidents may touch upon the strategic…
South African Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka, has reiterated in an interview that South Africa values its relations with Russia and the BRICS. And that South Africa’s neutral position is consistent on all military conflicts around the world, that the international community needs to work together to bring peace. Maqetuka further explained that South Africa is committed to the articles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, including the principle that all members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means. Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa almost 30 years ago, we have called for the…
South Africa Faces Deep-Seated Economic and Energy Crisis South Africa, highly considered as an economic powerhouse, is in deep-seated crisis. Energy deficit has crippled industrial operations and supplies for domestic use has largely been reduced. Unemployment is rising and cost of living becomes unbearable across the country. Social discontent, as a result of the crisis, has engulfed every corner in South Africa. Reports monitored here say South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet on May 7 held an extensive meeting with key business leaders as concern over the country’s energy crisis, logistic constraints and close ties with Russia grow.…
Ghana to host PanAfrican Shopping Mall The capital city of Accra, Republic of Ghana, hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA spearheads the operations of the continental single market, a mega project of the African Union (AU). In a parallel development, a Pan-African Mall (PAM), set to become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s historic landmark mall for shopping. The first of its kind, Pan African Mall is aimed at a more inclusive retail concept being introduced in Africa in furtherance of trade and socio-economic development and facilitation in alignment with the AfCFTA, considering it will accommodate businesses from…
Cuba Seeks Russian Investors Reports say Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz had arrived in Russia for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. “We have arrived in the fraternal Russian Federation for an official visit in order to expand and strengthen bilateral relations between our countries, which have been continuously maintained since 1960 until now,” the prime minister wrote on his Twitter account. With the geopolitical changes taking place, both Russian and Cuban officials’ visit to and from Moscow and Havana proliferate, most seeking to strengthen friendship and increased economic cooperation between the two countries. According to the…
Civil Society Engagement at the Core of US-African Relations in Multipolar World United States has held its 8th annual civil society forum to review progress, examine challenges and renew interest in forging ways to strengthen relations with Africa. United States has the largest African diaspora which has close-knitted business, educational and cultural links with the African countries. This helps to support official efforts in promoting relations with Africa. The conference was a hybrid event that brought together civil society organizations, business, and government leaders from across Africa and the United States virtually and in person. The purpose of the gathering…
Popularly referred to as the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, this is a long highway which stretches from Abidjan to Lagos, crossing five independent states (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria) from west to east, and includes two political capitals and many regional economic centers. By European standard too long, but this highway which has a length of approximately 965 kilometers is considered the most mega-project to undertake in Africa. Due to the linguistic, cultural and political differences between the countries, the region’s economic potential has not yet been fully exploited. There has been little alignment of standards and construction of common…
South African based African Energy Chamber (AEC) has been leading steadily transformation of the energy sector in Africa. Since its historic African Energy Week, considered to be one of the world’s largest and continental energy gathering, the AEC has moved with its search for external partnership and cooperation to the United States and Europe. The Invest in African Energy Paris edition aims to build on existing Africa-Europe relations to usher in a new era of energy-related growth and prosperity. By showcasing projects, investment prospects and collaboration opportunities, the event positioned Africa as the destination of choice for both French and…
Burundi fears Russia’s geopolitical confrontation in Africa By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh Late May the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a stopover in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, among others. Lavrov has been very frequent with travels to Africa, pushing anti-Western fight intended to partition Africa. Confrontation has sharply divided Africa and threatens its unity that was attained leading to the establishment of OAU now African Union. Lavrov’s biggest geopolitical tasks on these trips include highlighting the his multipolar processes, the role of African leaders in this and what Russia can concretely offer Africa beyond those ancient rhetoric of Soviet-era assistance…
Placed under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and the President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, the French-African Foundation will bring together the new class for a week in France in June 2023 and then a week in Rwanda for high level meetings, interactive training and privileged moments of professional and personal exchanges with leading Franco-African and international personalities from the political, economic, cultural, sports and associative spheres. Young African leaders aged between 28 and 40 years in 2023, have also been chose based on competitive performance in various areas and who…
At the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town early June, there were high expectations. The first on the agenda was International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued from The Hague for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he travels to the country. From historical perspectives, South Africa and Russia have close relationships from the time of the former’s political and liberation struggle, and with developments until it joined BRICS in 2010. On the unofficial levels, Putin has worked out friendship with both former President Jacob Zuma and the current South African Cyril Ramaphosa. We…
African Nuclear Technologies Must Adopt the IAEA Approach With energy for both domestic and industrial use still in deep deficit, a number of African countries are looking to install nuclear plants as part of the energy mix. But the two principal setbacks encountered are (i) getting through the pre-installation technical stages or processes, (ii) identifying sources of finance for the construction and (iii) dealing with nuclear waste and employment of well-trained professional staff. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sets the principles and conditions for the facilities of a major nuclear power programme and for the choice of construction sites…
Asmara and Moscow Strategic Partnership In this extremely poor Eritrea nation located in the Horn of Africa, with a population 3.6 million, what factors could attract to strengthen cooperation in the spheres highlight by the Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with President of the State of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki at the Kremlin. According to reports that emerged from the Kremlin on May 31, Putin made reference to the fact that Eritrea has recently marked 30 years of its independence. This was when two countries established diplomatic relations too. Russia is attracted due to its highly strategic location. Eritrea…
Russia’s ‘No-Cost Deliveries’ Soft-Power Reaches Africa Something interesting happened in late May. It was not extraordinarily new, but Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova only hinted during her last media briefing that “Africa has not forgotten, just as it has not forgotten those who helped it to break free. The point at issue is not only that African countries and peoples were liberated, but that colonialism, as such, is a shameful part of history.” She did not say anything about her boss Sergey Lavrov’s trip (in fact his third African trip this year) through Kenya, Burundi and Mozambique to South Africa.…
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already issued warning that if the current situation does not change Russia would terminate its cooperation with the Black Sea Grain Initiative which established to boost exports to needy foreign countries. The deal was extended for 90 days on May 18. “As concerns the Black Sea initiative’s future… If everything remains as it is, and it looks like this is what’s going to be, it should be assumed that it doesn’t function any longer,” Lavrov said at a press conference in Nairobi in conclusion of his visit to Kenya. As concerns exports of Ukrainian foodstuffs…
Kenya and Russia Agreement: On his way to Cape Town for a June 1 meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of emerging economies, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a stop over for a quick meeting with President William Ruto in Nairobi, Kenya. Reports, quoting the president’s office, said their discussions were focused on soliciting support Russia’s war in Ukraine and seek effective ways to boost trade and economic cooperation. Lavrov’s trip to the East African powerhouse comes on the heels of a trip to the continent last week…
Africa is getting renewed attention from all corners of the world. Africans celebrate their continental day on May 25th. Some believe it is the best time to observe it with cultural performances. The concept of pan-Africanism has offered the grounds to show Africa’s diverse culture, food and artworks to the world. With the 60th anniversary of Africa Day, there are good reasons to mark the event in solidarity with brothers and sisters irrespective of the political differences. In short, the necessity to sustain the already established unity in cultural diversity by all Africans in the continent and the Diaspora across…
