Former South African Foreign Minister and AU Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma emphasized the importance of women's leadership in fostering peace, development, and a brighter future for Africa during her participation at the 4th Eurasian Women's Forum in St. Petersburg.
"Together as women, we need to make sure that we defend the gains that we've made, but also keep pushing the frontiers," Zuma told Sputnik Africa, calling for continued efforts to ensure women's full and equal participation in society.
She emphasized the need to pass on a better world to future generations, with greater opportunities in the economy and technology.
While acknowledging the good bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa, Zuma expressed her belief that there is room for further strengthening, particularly in areas like skills development for South African youth, trade, tourism, and scientific collaboration.
The former African Union head contrasted Russia's approach to supporting African countries with that of Western nations, stating that Russia views Africa as a partner for collaboration, while Western countries often take an exploitative approach.
"Russia sees Africa as a continent they can work with. They have an interest in assisting where they can. The Western countries have a very different approach," Zuma stated. "We are very grateful to have friends like Russia."
Zuma also addressed the issue of terrorism in Africa, stating that interference by Western powers often fuels instability and allows them to gain access to resources. She cited the 2014 coup in Ukraine as an example of Western manipulation, highlighting the need for African countries to choose their friends carefully and prioritize cooperation based on equality.
She concluded by emphasizing the crucial role women play in building peace and stability in Africa. The diplomat called for greater involvement of women in conflict prevention and peace building, recognizing their unique perspective and contributions.