"We note and respect Uganda's well-balanced and constructive approach to international affairs, as well as your country's role in the peacekeeping efforts of the African Union, including in Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great African Lakes region. We have supported Uganda's candidacy during the BRICS Summit in October, when the issue of extending invitations to our friends was discussed," Lavrov said at a meeting with his Ugandan counterpart Jeje Odongo on the margins of the first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
The first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum is taking place from November 9-10 in Russia's Sochi.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association. In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the website of the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. Saudi Arabia has not reportedly formalized its participation but has been taking part in BRICS meetings.