Russian diplomacy will support Africa’s emergence as one of the key centers of a new multipolar world order, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote in an article for African media ahead of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum.
Lavrov noted that Moscow welcomes and supports Africa’s “second awakening,” marked by the continent’s drive to assert sovereignty in all areas of national life.
“It is important to us that Africa strives to speak with one voice on the international stage,” Lavrov wrote. “Russian diplomacy will continue to assist in strengthening Africa’s role as an influential pillar of the multipolar world — a priority included in Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept.”
He stressed that Russia considers it essential that African nations have the sovereign right to choose their own paths of development and determine their international partnerships.
Lavrov also recalled the historical evolution of relations between Russia and African nations, which have experienced various stages of intensity. “The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was, as President Vladimir Putin has said, the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. Its negative consequences were felt by our friends on the African continent,” he wrote. “At the turn of the millennium, relations slowed noticeably — but the ‘end of history’ never came, and today we are witnessing a new era of Russian–African friendship.”
According to Lavrov, it is symbolic that Russia now consistently speaks out on major international platforms in favor of combating modern forms of neocolonialism. “Many African nations are sending representatives from their progressive political movements to join the international Movement for the Freedom of Nations!, launched at the initiative of Russia’s ruling United Russia party,” he added.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS