Russian MFA: West and Ukraine Resort to Open Blackmail in Africa

14 January

Western countries and the Kiev regime, in their efforts to counter Russia's influence in Africa, have resorted to overt blackmail of African nations, according to Anatoly Bashkin, Director of the African Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with Izvestia.

 

"The collective West's opposition to our foreign policy in Africa is a constant presence. Their diplomats and representatives of the Kiev regime are conducting coordinated efforts in African capitals," Bashkin said. "This includes targeted political demarches aimed at curbing Russia's influence and a wide-scale information campaign to undermine our initiatives for fostering friendly and mutually beneficial economic relations."

 

He further noted, "They employ all possible methods, even resorting to blatant blackmail of Africans. This applies to both bilateral relations and major high-level events, such as the second Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Summit in 2023."

 

Bashkin recalled the first ministerial conference of the forum held in November 2024, during which Western countries "used every tool at their disposal to pressure African capitals and minimize the number of attending delegations, ultimately aiming to derail the event." However, he emphasized, "Their latest attempt to isolate Russia failed. Despite the orchestrated campaign against us, the forum was attended by 54 official delegations from countries and regional organizations, including over 40 ministers."

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: James Wiseman/Unsplash

Based on TASS materials