Western countries are putting pressure on African states in an attempt to prevent them from participating in the third Russia–Africa Summit, which will take place in Moscow on 28–29 October, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disclosed this at a media briefing on Wednesday in Moscow.
“As the summit approaches, we are, of course, recording attempts by Western ill-wishers to put pressure on African partners in order to prevent them from coming to Moscow,” Zakharova noted.
According to her, such actions by the “collective Western minority are yet another example of its short-sighted policy”. She also called some attempts by Western countries to impose their will on African states unacceptable.
“The former colonial powers are failing to keep pace with the changing world, continue to view the African continent as their own domain and want to dictate their will. This is not only regrettable but simply unacceptable.
African states pursue an independent, sovereign foreign policy course based primarily on their own national interests,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed.
She added that Russia and African states “are united by the desire to build a just, multipolar world order based on genuine equality, the primacy of international law and respect”.
“And we are confident that the summit will be held at a high standard, with broad representation of African guests,” Zakharova concluded.
In June, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that countries unfriendly to Russia might try to obstruct African states’ participation in the summit.
The first Russia–Africa Summit was held in Sochi in October 2019 under the co-chairmanship of the Russian president and the Chairperson of the African Union, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The second summit took place in St Petersburg in August 2023. (Afr Initiative/GSF)
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