Congo's Sassou-Nguesso's Visit to Russia is Sign of Political Courage, Independence: Expert

The Republic of Congo demonstrates independence in its foreign policy, and this would take "a certain political courage," as well as a principled position, without looking back for other global actors' opinions, Sergey Nenashev, researcher at the Africa Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and former Russian ambassador to Congo in 1999-2003, told Sputnik Africa.

“This visit at the highest level will undoubtedly contribute to maintaining dialogue between the heads of the two states. Congo is demonstrating independence because it considers this to be of fundamental importance: it must develop its relations,” Nenashev said.

Despite Western pressure, Brazzaville did not support any anti-Russian resolution at the UN during the extraordinary sessions of 2022 and early 2023, the former diplomat recalled.

Recently, many African leaders have made state visits to Russia, as Moscow has adopted a new conception of its foreign policy where Africa takes "its rightful place," Nenashev emphasized. According to him, values such as multipolarity and rejection of the remnants of the colonial past are valuable not only for Congo but also for the entire African continent.

"That is why, in general, African countries show significant interest in the activities of the BRICS and those meetings of the BRICS summit that were held on the African continent; they have always, on the initiative of South Africa, involved a significant number of African states in holding these events and summits," the scientist said.

Therefore, "Africans are naturally interested in establishing fair international relations so that international relations do not contain elements of the dictates of this or that country, this or that region," he stressed.

"So that Africans can determine their own destiny in accordance with national traditions and not build their internal policies according to Western patterns," he added.

Relations between Moscow and the continent are experiencing “a new dynamic,” he concluded.

"Well, thanks to the adoption of a new concept of our foreign policy, where Africa has taken its rightful place, and before that, the holding of the first [Russia-Africa] summit in 2019," he elaborated. "Last year, the second Russia-Africa summit took place. These relationships have gained new dynamics. And Africa, in my opinion, has finally taken its rightful place in our foreign policy priorities."

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