Relations between Russia and Africa are changing rapidly as the world enters a state of the deep change, Russian Ambassador-at-Large and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Oleg Ozerov told press.
"The globe has entered a period of profound change, which has has had an impact, among other things, on ties between Russia and Africa. These changes have been occurring at a rate that is unparalleled," he said.
Ozerov cited the Russia–Africa Interparliamentary Conference, which attracted participants from 40 of the continent's 54 countries, as proof of this.
Likewise, President Xi Jinping of China's visit to Moscow, with Beijing stepping up its own country's decades-long emphasis on fostering relations with Africa.
Ozerov stated that both of those incidents dispelled the continuously-propagated Western idea that Russia was isolated as a result of the special military operation in Ukraine. He said that the majority of African leaders did not require justifications for Russia's conduct in Ukraine.
People in Africa are extremely aware of the fact that the former Soviet republic [Ukraine] has evolved into a site of conflict between opposing worldviews and ideologies, not merely a small-scale neighborly dispute, stated the diplomat.
He continued by saying that Western propaganda about a "imperialistic" and "aggressive" Russia has little impact outside of its zone of influence.
"There is a growing awareness across Africa and Latin America, China, and India, in the Islamic world and even among an increasing number of Europeans and North Americans, that the time of dictate and unipolar world-order is running out, as demonstrated again by the developments in Ukraine."
The diplomat stated that Russia's position in Africa has come under growing fire from Washington.
Moreover, he was certain that African nations would defy Western efforts to boycott the upcoming Russia–Africa Summit scheduled for July this year.
"This logic, nevertheless, can hardly impress anyone in Africa," the ambassador outlined. "Day by day, people there can see for themselves that Moscow's policy is devoid of bloc considerations, is not directed against third countries, and seeks to develop equal partnerships rather than confrontations. Everyone is free to choose their own partners."
Ozerov said that the next Russia-Africa Summit will put this trend on full show. The promotion of local solutions and national interests, as well as breaking "free from the rigid constraints of globalism promoted by neo-liberalist ideologists," are some of the growing concerns in Africa, according to his argument.
The second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum will take place in St. Petersburg from July 26–29, 2023. A number of goals and objectives for future cooperation between Russia and the continent in sectors including politics, security, economics, science, technology, culture, and the humanitarian sector were outlined at the first such summit, which took place in Sochi in 2019.
"African countries count on Russia's support," Ozerov emphasized.
Russia has had relations with the region for a very long time. While European countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom colonized sizable portions of the African continent, Moscow backed liberation movements in Africa throughout the Soviet period. According to Ozerov, the Russian Federation is currently working to build upon this history.
"We support Africans in their efforts to complete the decolonization process in a number of countries, including small nations like the Union of the Comoros," the diplomat mentioned. "Russia has a comprehensive view of sovereignty in its political aspect, which encompasses, above all, the consolidation of state structures, peace-building, counter-terrorism, and information security."
He likewise stated that in addition to Moscow's support for UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, Moscow also aims to contain militant threats by coordinating all international efforts to form a broad anti-terrorist front with the participation of all states in line with the UN Charter and free of any covert agendas or double standards.
He continued by saying that "there are indications that terrorism may have been used as a tool in certain African countries, including in the Sahel."
According to Ozerov, Russia has unique expertise combating both internal and external terrorist threats and is prepared to actively share that knowledge with its African allies.
"Most importantly, Russia has no vested interests, such as to preserve its zone of influence or aggressively guard markets from any 'outsiders,' " he stressed.
Ozerov also sought to clarify Moscow's intentions with regard to the immense and priceless resources of Africa. Russia does not see the nations on the continent as a raw material foundation for its economy, despite an interest in some minerals, he added.
"Our primary interest is to assist the development of Africa's domestic energy and electricity markets, where we have considerable expertise, especially as regards nuclear energy," he noted.
In contrast, he contended that the contemporary neo-colonial strategy of Americans and Europeans is the implementation of a straightforward plan in which Africa will only serve as a source of raw commodities to the "civilized world."
According to Irina Abramova, director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the West is currently carrying out a new colonial policy towards developing countries, including the African continent.
"Now the new colonialism takes on some amazing forms in general. We are no longer talking about the collective West," she told Sputnik recently. "We are talking about one country that dictates conditions, including to its former allies, the same Europeans, who also have to line up and salute one country. [...] And this model of colonialism, it extends to the whole world. There is one country that will manage everything. And there are all other countries that have a certain role to play."
In the new colonial era, Africa and Russia are standing side by side, Abramova outlined. The countries of the new colonialism perceive Russia and Africa exclusively as regions that provide resources that are needed by these countries.