🇷🇺🇨🇬 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, who is in Russia on an official visit.

💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends, I would like to welcome you to Moscow once again.

In this context, I would like to remind you that you visited our country back during the Soviet era. We have developed very warm and friendly relations with you at the interstate and personal levels.

You have made a significant personal contribution to the development of Russian-Congolese relations, attended two Russia-Africa summits and are doing a great deal to further develop our interaction in nearly all spheres. I am referring to the political sphere, and our trade and economic ties have recently been growing visibly.

We are grateful to you for our concerted efforts on the international stage.

#RussiaAfrica

🗓 On July 15, Deputy Foreign Minister and Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov, who was on a working trip in Addis Ababa, met with Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.

The Officials held an in-depth discussion on a number of issues related to the strengthening of interaction between Russia and the AU, including the coordination of their fundamental positions at the UN and on other international platforms. They reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023-2026 adopted in St Petersburg in July 2023 following the second Russia-Africa Summit, and ensuring the success of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum scheduled to be held in Sochi in November 2024.

Mikhail Bogdanov and Moussa Faki Mahamat also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, focusing on the maintenance of peace and security in Africa, in particular the settlement of the situation in Sahel-Sahara, the African Great Lakes region and Sudan.

#RussiaAfrica

🎙 Statement by Aleksandr Pankin, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the #G20 Development Ministerial Meeting on “Fighting Inequalities” (Rio de Janeiro, July 23, 2024)

💬 In recent decades, we have seen tangible progress in reducing inequality levels in certain areas. Last year, for example, the #BRICS countries were well ahead of the G7 in terms of global GDP share (35 percent against 30 percent, respectively). Still, additional steps are needed to remedy the situation. The creation of the G20 has greatly contributed to the democratization of global governance. The African Union's recent joining the G20 as a new member has been another significant achievement.

Other positive developments are also taking place. Today, the G20 is increasingly relying on universal mechanisms, such as the UN, rather than on behind-the-scenes West-driven arrangements, standards and club formats. This is how, for example, work on the thematic tracks on Tax Cooperation and Combatting Corruption is being carried out.

Russia has been consistently gaining ground in the global economic system. According to the World Bank, we have ranked among the top five largest economies, become a high-income country and one of the ten most profitable exporters. We are continuously improving the Russian manufacturing sector. We are enhancing our technological sovereignty, increasing the output of high value added products, and developing unique professional competencies.

We guarantee a reliable supply of energy, food and fertilizers to foreign consumers and offer them digital services, programmes and engineering solutions that are unaffected by political fluctuations. We intend to expand the range of supplies of knowledge-intensive and complex goods.

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Strengthening the production capacities and human resources of developing countries and increasing gains is of crucial importance. This would allow to put an end to the situation, when, according to the Africans themselves, for ages the continent has been supplying raw materials and agricultural stuff to the West, which has been profiting from it. A vivid example by one African leader: Africa gets less than 6 percent of the USD 46 billion from global sales of African grown coffee.

It is high time to put an end to these neo-colonial practices. We should focus efforts on strengthening the industrial sector of the Global South and East, increasing the funding of their healthcare and education, digitalization, and expanding university and student exchanges. We have actively advocated these ideas within BRICS partners as well as in the #RussiaAfrica format. Developed countries, according to their own pledges, are expected to allocate at least 0.7 percent of GDP to development assistance, which has been stagnating.

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Geopolitical games played by the West may lead to an irreparable fragmentation of the world economy and further fuel inequality. Our societies will thus be doomed to utter impoverishment and radicalization. The G20 can and must put a firm stop to that, bringing us back on the path of multilateralism. The key to our success is to reaffirm adherence to the UN Charter, international law and mutually beneficial cooperation.

📄 Full statement

✍️ The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a greeting message to the organisers and participants of the Great African Expedition.

✉️ Relations between Russia and African countries are on the rise which was starkly highlighted following the second Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg last year.

Fisheries have traditionally been an important part of bilateral economic cooperation. The Great African Expedition made possible by the Federal Agency for Fisheries will undoubtedly help ramp up joint efforts in this area.

Assessing the size of aquatic biological resources in the exclusive economic zones of African countries is what this major and truly unparalleled research project all about. The populations of commercial species of marine fauna occurring in a significant portion of these vast water areas that are part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean have not been studied for a long time now.

We operate on the premise that the research conducted by Russian specialists will boost the effectiveness of fishing carried out by our African partners, which, in turn, will improve Africa’s food security.

#RussiaAfrica

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following talks with Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal Yassine Fall (Moscow, August 29, 2024)

💬 We have had useful and productive talks with the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal, Yassine Fall. We agreed that today’s meeting is yet another confirmation of Moscow’s and Dakar’s firm commitment to strengthening traditionally friendly relations between our countries based on the principles of equality and mutual respect.

We expressed satisfaction with the policy pursued by the new Senegalese leadership and personally President of the Republic of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye on further building mutually beneficial ties with Russia, despite the well-known attempts of pressure from certain states pursuing the illusory goal of isolating our country, including from our long-standing, loyal friends, with whom we are linked by our joint struggle for justice in international relations.

🤝 We discussed the main areas of bilateral cooperation, focusing on trade and economic ties. We agreed to take additional steps to implement promising joint projects in geological prospecting, development of mineral resources, energy and infrastructure, fisheries, information and communication technologies. <...>

🌐 We have spoken quite thoroughly on key issues on the global and regional agendas. We have converging or close positions on most of them. Russia and Senegal are committed to the basic principles of international law, including the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and respect for the right of peoples to determine their own political, social and economic development.

We are co-operating closely at the United Nations. We are grateful to Senegal for its support for most Russian initiatives at the UN. We support each other’s candidates in UN elections to various multilateral structures. We agreed to continue to strengthen foreign policy coordination.

We discussed the situation in and around Ukraine. Senegal holds a balanced, principled and objective position. We appreciate this. <...>

🌍 We also discussed the developments in the African continent, above all in the Sahara-Sahel region, including the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Russia is seriously concerned about the growing threat of terrorism in that part of the world. Islamist groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gradually and steadily spreading their influence and activities to West African countries, including Senegal’s neighbours. We have a common interest in joining efforts to combat these threats. Russia is ready to assist Senegal and other African states in strengthening their defence capabilities and improving the anti-terrorist readiness of their armed forces and special services.

#RussiaAfrica

🗓️On September 3, 2024, Russian News Agency Sputnik and International News Channel RT TV have been officially admitted to the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), the largest journalistic organisation in Africa.

The inauguration of new AUB’s members took place during the 15th AUB General Assembly, which is being held on September 2-6, 2024, in Gaborone.

The General Assembly was opened by His Honour Mr Slumber Tsogwane, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana 🇧🇼

The African Union of Broadcasting comprises Africa's largest media and broadcasting companies from more than 50 countries.

#RussiaAfrica #Sputnik #RT

🎙 Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (October 2, 2024)

🔹 FM Sergey Lavrov’s schedule
🔹 Developments in the Middle East
🔹 Kiev regime crimes
🔹 Ukrainian Armed Forces’ links with terrorist organisations
🔹 Situation in Moldova
🔹 US military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region
🔹 Russian chairmanship in BRICS
🔹 75 years of Russia-China diplomatic relations
🔹 Ministerial Conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership in Sochi
🔹 FM Sergey Lavrov’s article about post-war partition of Germany and Austria

📰 Read
📺 Watch

#Ukraine #KievRegimeCrimes

People who came to the temporary accommodation centre in Kursk told journalists about the first days of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ invasion of the Kursk Region, including the large number of civilian casualties.

According to eyewitnesses, the Ukrainians warned the residents that if they did not leave, then “foreign mercenaries would come and leave no one alive.” Sudzha resident Vladimir Maltsev said: “Georgians, Poles, Frenchmen – all these mercenaries – were exterminating people like cockroaches,” and “a lot of women were killed, abused, and raped.”

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Kiev regime does not hide its links with terrorist groups around the world and, in particular, on the African continent and in the Middle East. The international community’s attention has been drawn to this more than once. In this regard, we note that an increasing number of states become aware of the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.

We believe that this practice of criminal cooperation between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the international terrorist international is absolutely unacceptable. We will continue to fight this evil spirit by all available means, regardless of where it appears

#RussiaChina

Today, the relations between Russia and China are at their all-time high, and the effort to further reinforce them meets the long-term development goals of the two countries. This is a steady and lasting trend.

On the international stage, Russia and China have been acting in tandem and emerged as a major factor of stability. The two countries are committed to do even more to coordinate their actions in order to fast-track the emergence of a democratic multipolar world order with greater justice for all, empowering all countries to have a say on global governance matters, ensuring equal and indivisible security, and rejecting confrontation and conflict.

#BRICS

In our work, we primarily strive to stand up to the challenges and threats of our time, and find collective solutions to the global challenges of international development. Specifically, we focus on a wider use of national currencies, joint payment instruments and platforms in mutual trade transactions.

Our combined efforts are aimed at promoting and building an interconnected and interdependent international system on a non-aligned and non-hegemonic basis, which would give precedence to such common priorities as economic growth, poverty alleviation, food, climate and water security, combating international terrorism, extremism, and organised crime, etc.

Статья Посла России на Маврикии Ирады Зейналовой в Le Xournal (2 ноября, 2024 г.)

«Вперед, в будущее». Часть 1.

Порт-Луи, с его великолепной погодой, торжественными храмами, современными комплексами из стекла и бетона – то самое место, куда россияне так любят теперь ездить отдыхать и где они мечтают вести бизнес, когда-то для русских был абсолютно фантастической точкой, о которой можно было услышать лишь в новостях. И это были новости о том, как в 75-м советские моряки спасали остров после разрушительного циклона, как Маврикий строил свою независимость, как в его порты заходили исследовавшие океан и следившие за полетом спутников советские корабли. Это всегда для нас была страна из сказок – и эти сказки были о невероятной красоте океана и дружелюбности населявших остров народов. Я приехала сюда меньше месяца назад. И до сих пор удивляюсь тому, сколько людей встречают меня русским – здравствуйте, как дела. Скольким важно то, что они учились в Советском союзе – и вернулись, став врачами, учеными, учителями, архитекторами, строителями. Сколько у нас общей памяти и как здесь ценят – то, что Советский союз делал и что делает сейчас Россия для независимости африканских наций и победы над остатками колониализма.
Именно в тот момент, когда опасностей и вызовов слишком много, когда приходится обсуждать поиски выхода из стольких войн – в том числе и в Африке, и на Ближнем Востоке. Когда нужно искать формулы для победы над голодом, эпидемиями, климатическими изменениями – и Россия готова предложить свою помощь и в построении продовольственной безопасности, и в совместных исследованиях ресурсов, и в преодолении опасных болезней. Именно потому, что мир глобален – и эти угрозы уже глобальны тоже. Именно потому, что победа над этими угрозами может быть только общей, это единый вызов всем нам, живущим на этой планете. И это внимание России к проблемам африканских наций возникло не вчера – мы всегда были друзьями, наши отношения никогда не были омрачены колониальным прошлым, мы первыми протягивали руку помощи любому, кто в ней нуждался. Потому что мы были первым государством, объявившим своей главной ценностью равенство и уважение к человеку. И мы сохраняем это как главную ценность – нашего уникального многонационального, многоконфессионального государства. И в этом наша сила – и в этом мы готовы поддержать всех, кому это дорого. Россия всегда на равных, всегда с уважением и всегда открыто поддерживала африканские нации в их стремлении развиваться и сохранять свой суверенитет. И нам очень важно то, как сейчас гордые и независимые нации откликаются на наш призыв – в этот переломный момент истории.

#РоссияАфрика
#RussiaAfrica
#RussiaMauritius

На общем фото вместе со всеми приехавшими на конференцию представителями африканских стран - и глава делегации Маврикия, Рой Биссундоял. И это - продолжение большого пути нашей дружбы.

#RussiaAfrica
#RussiaMauritius

📄 Joint Statement of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum on measures to create a fair and equitable system of International Information Security (Sochi, 10 November, 2024)

Key points

• We advocate for the formation of a fair and equitable system of security in the use of ICTs aimed at preventing and peacefully resolving conflicts in the digital sphere, as well preventing the use of ICTs to commit actions that hinder the maintenance of international peace, security and stability.

• We confirm the importance of both observing the generally recognized principles of international law and developing a universal legal binding framework in the field of security in the use of ICTs under the auspices of the United Nations.

• We commend the launch of the UN Global Intergovernmental Points of Contact Directory with a view of enhancing a depoliticized dialogue between authorized agencies and specialists in the field of security in the use of ICTs.

• We advocate for the internationalization of Internet governance, ensuring the equal participation of countries in this process while ensuring the integrity, stability and security of national segments of the Internet.

• We proceed from the importance of providing all States with equal access to ICTs, including artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring the safety of their use, as well as the need to develop fair technical standards and requirements in the field of AI.

• We call for Africa’s active and effective participation in AI development and undertake to jointly consider promotion of funding and capacity building programmes to facilitate inclusive digital transformation in line with the Continental AI Strategy. We support the hosting of the African Conference on AI in 2025.

• We advocate for strict observance of the principles of the UN Charter and the national legislation of states by high-tech monopolies, as well as their responsibility for the safety of users' personal data and privacy.

• We are deeply concerned about the disruptive effect of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, which undermine the UN Charter and further restrain technological development of member states.

• We reaffirm our commitment to promoting respect for States sovereignty and sovereign equality in the ICTs environment and oppose unilateral actions that could undermine international cooperation in this domain.

👉 Read in full

#RussiaAfrica

🗓 On November 9-10, Sochi hosted the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum at Sirius University.

Instituted by a decision of the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in July 2023, this new dialogue format is called on to become a certain coordinating mechanism for implementing objectives set by the heads of state and government.

Along with heads of foreign ministries and executive structures of integration associations, the event brought together sectoral ministers as well as representatives of parliamentary, public, academic and business circles of Russia and African countries, with over 1,500 people attended the event.

🌐 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired a plenary session, the conference’s high-priority event that involved 54 heads of official delegations from African states and regional integration associations. At the beginning of the plenary session, they read out greetings from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Chair of the African Union – President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.

The Ministers coordinated their positions on key issues of the international agenda as well as the Russian-African agenda, prioritising the implementation of the Action Plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2023-2026. Also, they specified and coordinated long-term guidelines for expanding mutual collaboration still further.

📄 Four joint statements formalised common approaches towards addressing global problems and expanding cooperation with a focus on quality preparations for the Third Russia-Africa Summit:

👉 political statement,
👉 on international information security,
👉 on counter-terrorism measures,
👉 on peaceful use of outer space.

The conference’s packed business programme, including 20 panel sessions and specialised events, provided an additional impetus for diverse mutually beneficial cooperation. Experts and high-ranking guests discussed various high-priority issues in great detail, including food security and collaboration in the agro-industrial sector, training specialists for the real economy, geological prospecting, digitalisation, and cooperation in education, healthcare and youth policy. Representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission and various African associations discussed mutual integration issues.

Elaborating on the provisions of the Declaration of the Second Russia-Africa Summit, the sides held specialised meetings on international information security, counter-terrorism efforts, and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. Representatives of Russian and African media outlets took part in an event on measures to combat the manifestations of neo-colonialism. 

🤝 Sergey Lavrov met separately with a majority of African delegations on the sidelines of the conference.

✍️ The Officials signed an extensive package of memorandums and agreements between Russia and a number of African states.

#RussiaAfrica