Russia Seeks Mutually Beneficial Ties With Africa, Rejecting West's 'Plunder' Approach: Academician

Russia is actively pursuing a different model of engagement with Africa, one that emphasizes mutually beneficial partnerships and rejects the historical "plunder" approach often attributed to the West, Prof. Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), said in an interview with Sputnik Africa.

"The main slogan in Russian-African relations is their bilateral and mutually beneficial nature," Abramova emphasized. "And the slogan: 'African problems — African solutions.' We do not interfere in Africa's internal affairs. We are trying to help this continent take its rightful place in world politics and world economics."

Abramova contrasts this approach with what she sees as the West's traditional exploitation of Africa.

"The Western approach is quite traditional, because in fact, the existing world order ensures Western dominance, built on plunder. They continue to plunder Africa, continue to subjugate it, continue to broadcast their ideas, not only in the development of production but also in the social sphere […] They try to reformat African minds," she explained.

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Russia's commitment to non-interference and mutual benefit is further demonstrated by its focus on concrete projects and actions, as opposed to merely symbolic gestures, the professor said. This is evident in the upcoming Russia-Africa ministerial conference in Sochi, where representatives from all African nations are expected to gather.

"The ministerial conference is a new format of our interaction, and it was envisaged within the framework of the Russia-Africa action plan, which was adopted for the first time at the second [Russia-Africa] summit," Abramova explained, noting that the plan's implementation began back in 2023, although it is designed for the years 2024-2026.

According to the head of the RAS Institute for African Studies, the action plan is "specifically aimed at moving from declarations and statements to concrete actions and projects." This focus on practical collaboration aligns with President Vladimir Putin's recent statement at the BRICS summit, where he highlighted Southeast Asia and Africa as regions of global growth.

The Institute for African Studies, which recently celebrated its 65th anniversary, plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts.

"The significance of our institute is precisely that now, in order to apply and make the right decisions, both in politics and economics, a scientific approach is needed," Abramova concluded.