Russia is a strong state that has overcome other countries' efforts to undermine its economy, and it is a model for African countries, which see promising possible benefits from the Russia-Africa cooperation, Tunisian geopolitics and political sociology expert Riad Sidaoui told Sputnik Africa.
"Russia has become a model for the whole world, especially for African countries," he commented on the Russian president's remarks at the "Russia Calling" Investment Forum.
Russia is an example of a state that has become stronger than before some powers tried to stigmatize it in order to worsen its economic situation, but failed, the expert noted.
"This means that if you have the will, national unity, motivation, rational calculation and hard work, you can always come out stronger than before," he said, explaining how Russia managed to become stronger.
According to Sidaoui, Africa can "benefit from the prosperity of the Russian economy by joining the Russian stock market, because political sovereignty must go hand in hand with economic sovereignty".
"African countries have a great opportunity to free themselves from the domination of the West in general and the domination of the dollar in particular [...] either by joining BRICS or through bilateral cooperation with Russia," the expert emphasized.
President Putin's decision to create an investment fund to support Russian companies wishing to invest in Africa is "sensible and historic," Sidaoui said.
"From an economic point of view, this is a practical step for African countries to strengthen their economies," he concluded.