The phenomenon of colonialism created the Africa Day 60 years ago. And Africans always remember May 25th, a momentous occasion observed with receipt of friendly messages from across the world. While its primary continental goals include ‘sustainable peace and development’, and ‘unity in diversity’, these still remain integral challenges. Despite recognising the significance of some achievements during the past 60 years, Africa extends far beyond. The African Union itself said in an official statement posted on its website that “celebration of the 60th anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the role and contribution of the founders of the continental organization…
Author: Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane must move swiftly to honour his promise to ensure the “realization of human rights”, including tackling entrenched impunity for violations such as torture and killings by members of the security forces, Amnesty International said in its report. In a briefing to mark almost seven months since Matekane took office, Amnesty International documented human rights violations committed by police officers, ranging from unlawful killings, torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of persons in detention. The human rights violations took place in the past five years. Amnesty International also documented cases where police authorities either neglected…
President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Azali Assoumani has reiterated, at the opening of the ordinary session of the Sixth Parliament held in Midrand, South Africa, under the AU theme for 2023, “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” that for Africa to develop, it need relative peace and stability. That it was necessary with determination to work in favor of the defense of the interests of the African peoples as the continental legislators seek to work in close collaboration with African governments and other AU institutions, including…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Comoro Islands Azali Assoumani (who now holds the rotating presidency of the African Union) together with four African leaders plan an early June special working visit to meet President Vladimir Putin. Local Russian and foreign media say the other African leaders include Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The delegation plans to discuss an African peace-making initiative and negotiate for “no-cost deliveries” of grains, wheat and other agricultural products to a number of Africa countries. At South African Ramaphosa’s request for phone conversation on May 12, Putin discussed issues…
Russian expressed high dissatisfaction over the final report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the human rights related-political developments in the West African republic of Mali. That report released on May 12, 2023, by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the events in Mali largely concerns “crimes” committed in March 2022 near the town of Moura in one of the central provinces of the country. Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, during her weekly media briefing on May 17, said it was regrettable that OHCHR experts have essentially become…
In much of the world, students of all ages and studies are graduating over the next month – celebrating their hard work and successes over years of schooling. The same is true for Forest Garden farmers in Kenya and Tanzania. More than 5,500 farmers celebrated their successful completion of Trees for the Future’s (TREES) Forest Garden training program in April and May. “This day means that I have graduated, and I have reached such a level that I am an expert and am better than before,” says graduate farmer Peter Ngigi. Peter Ngigi and his fellow graduates joined TREES’ training…
In practical terms, Russia needs to go beyond its traditional rhetoric of Soviet-era assistance rendered to sub-Saharan African countries. It is important now to highlight concrete success stories and policy achievements, at least, during the past decade throughout Africa. The young generation and the middle class, aged between 25 to 45 that make the bulk of the 1.3 billion population, hardly see the broad impact of contemporary Russia’s relations with Africa. Russia plans to hold the second Russia-Africa summit in July 2023. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, indicated in a message mid-June last year, a…
Chairman of the Federation Council of Ethiopia, Agenyehu Teshager, during his first official working visit to Moscow, has held talks with Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, after which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the upper houses of the parliaments of Ethiopia and Russia. During the discusions, Matviyenko and Teshager emphasized questions relating to ways for promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation and the strengthening of Russian-Ethiopian ties. The Speaker of the Federation Council noted the fact that this visit will give impetus to the development of the entire range of bilateral relations. Matvienko recalled that Ethiopia has been one…
As Russia-Ukraine war enter another phase, a Local Russian and foreign media is awash with the latest potential peace efforts, this time, from African leaders. Presumably this group of peace-makers, headed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, will demonstrate collective efforts at resolving the heightened political differences between Russia and its neighbouring Ukraine. According official sources monitored by this author, the peace plan is backed by African leaders of Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and Zambia. Four of those six African countries – South Africa, Congo, Senegal and Uganda – abstained from a U.N. vote last year…
Like many African countries, Zimbabwe’s economy needs sustainable resuscitation. On his mid-January official working visit to Moscow, President Emmerson Mnangagwa told Sputnik News Agency (SNA) in an interview: “We have always had cooperation in the field of defence and security with Russia. This we are not abandoning. At the moment, we don’t have much economic muscle to buy such things which we would want to buy from the Russian Federation.” “But down the line, as Zimbabwe becomes stronger in terms of its economic muscle, we should be able to buy the type of military hardware, which we know the Russian…
Despite consistent assurances made by high-ranking Russian officials that Africa is “in the mainstream of Russia’s foreign policy” have not been substantiated by systematic practical activities, and worse serious lack of state support for sustaining effective Russia-African economic ties have necessitated the pulling out of a number of Russian companies from Africa. According to various sources, Russian-African economic cooperation and partnerships continue to face challenges and obstacles, including inadequate knowledge of the Africa’s investment landscape and lack of appreciable state support, while Moscow seems to increasingly prioritise anti-Western rhetoric and political confrontation in the context of the great power competition…
There is a possibility for greater participation of Russian economic operators in the development processes in Mozambique, and in southern Africa. But Russian officials need to move away from too much rhetoric to concrete economic engagement in the coming years. For these several years, Russia claims its relationship with Mozambique has had good and time-tested relations from Soviet days. The relationship has also experienced delegations visiting both ways. In October 2019, President Filipe Nyusi was re-elected after a landslide victory in the general elections, and prior to the lecetions paid a working visit to Moscow where he held a fruitful…
Under the aegis of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, a Memorandum on Information Cooperation between African and Russian Media was signed and also an association comprising Russian and African journalists was established. The association is designed to coordinate Russian-African relations. Speakers and listeners from 15 countries discussed ideas for the development of information, scientific and educational cooperation between Russia and Africa. Participants were Russian and African diplomats, journalists, writers, bloggers, scientists, teachers, public and cultural figures. The event was attended by representatives of 15 countries: Russia, Cameroon, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, Mali, Senegal,…
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has taken steps for the extension, improvement and expansion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but Russia authorities explicitly indicated that it would unlikely to participate in the deal due to the fact that its conditions were not respected and taken into consideration. “I have presented a new proposal for the extension, improvement, and expansion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to the presidents of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Turkey. I was informed that the Kremlin is looking into the proposal and there would be a response (….), Guterres said. Commenting on negotiations…
Russian and African media representatives and practitioners marked the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day and the 32nd anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting the Development of an Independent and Pluralistic African Press by establishing a new association. Both Russian and African media practitioners pledged to continue to uphold the highest standards of journalism – including accuracy, fairness and impartiality – and also embrace innovation to adapt to the fast-changing media landscape. This initiative is an important milestone in the long history of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Africa. The importance of interaction in the field of…
The situation in the Sahel region including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger still remains extremely difficult with internal conflicts, extremism and militant attacks, economic development is undeniably at its lowest points in history. In addition, the Covid-19 and climate change are taking its toll on developments in the region. A number of foreign countries have strongly suggested that the extremism and frequent militant attacks are eradicated through multilateral cooperation, but some are making unilateral commitment and offering support towards establishing peace and development in the region. The Government of Japan has vowed to work closely with the Republic…
For more than three decades, Russia has been trying to regain part of its Soviet-era economic influence in Africa, but such efforts have regularly hit stumbling blocks which policy experts attribute to pitfalls in its policy towards Africa. Now several reports have urged Russian authorities, first to move away from their illusionary dreams, and to adopt a more comprehensive sustainable development-oriented policies which meet the contemporary challenges facing African countries. The latest report titled ‘Ways to Increase the Efficiency of Russia’s African Strategy under the Crisis of the Existing World Order’ co-authored by Professors Irina O. Abramova and Leonid L.…
Within the context of rapidly geopolitical changes and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, African leaders have to absolutely rethink and take strategies to save their straddling economy. Both situations have created increasing problems across the world. The underlying causes are well-known and therefore allowing its possible effects to largely influence the already-stressed economic development processes will spell disaster and tragedy for Africa and its 1.4 billion population. Several years have elapsed after the United Nations declared Africa’s political independence. Archival records show that Russia not only supported African countries in liberating themselves from the yoke of colonialism and attaining political independence but…
Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG) has abruptly disconnected domestic power supply due to non-payment of accumulated bills by the former President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. Many state institutions were also affected by the disconnection for failure to pay their bills which has caused financial losses to the ECG. Cable News Network (CNN), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Reuters, Al Jazeera News, The Bild newspaper, South Africa Bantu Newswire, Daily Graphic and The Moscow Times and many local and foreign media across the globe have all reported the perennial power crisis and the disruptions in this small west…
At the last international parliamentary conference ‘Russia – Africa in a Multipolar World’ held on March 20 under the auspices of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in his speech that the partnership between Russia and African countries has gained additional momentum and is reaching a whole new level, and further added that “Russia would continue helping African countries with electricity production, which so far covers only a quarter of the continent’s needs.” According to the transcript made available at the Kremlin website, Russia is offering new environmentally friendly technologies, primarily in nuclear…
Russian Foreign Ministry said on April 13 that Russia sees no possibility of extending the deal for the export of grain from Ukraine’s southern ports after May 18, unless “five systemic problems” are resolved. According to the ministry, the agreement, which was extended for 60 days on March 14, only facilitates Ukraine’s commercial exports in the interests of Western countries. The five demands that the Russian Foreign Ministry enumerated include the need to reconnect Rosselkhozbank (the Russian Agricultural Bank) to the SWIFT payment system; resume supplies of agricultural equipment to Russia; lift restrictions on the insurance and re-insurance of Russian…
Squeezed between rapidly changing geopolitical situation, the United States and European stringent sanctions and its own ‘special military operation’ in neighbouring Ukraine, Russia is now stepping up serious efforts to elevate its existing relationship with Africa. It plans to hold the next African leaders gathering late July despite the fact that it has not implemented already signed 92 bilateral agreements and largely not delivered on its words concerning engagement in various economic sectors in African countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on its official website that Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov…
Over a year, the Russia-Ukraine crisis has complicated the unbearable economic conditions for majority of the 1.3 billion population in Africa. The impoverished population and marginalized groups continue suffering from rising prices of commodities, the future still looks uncertain as African leaders attempt to contain the growing negative sentiments and to find suitable solutions for stabilizing somehow the economy. Amnesty International says in a report that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 generated a global energy and food crisis, which hit Africa hard, and sought to further disrupt weak multilateral and regional systems meant to protect human rights on…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received letters of credence from 17 newly-appointed ambassadors of foreign states in the Kremlin. In his speech, he noted that the situation in the world is currently challenging, with many disagreements that seem irreconcilable at times and often hinder normal productive cooperation between states. Putin emphasised that “Russia is open to constructive partnership with all countries without exception,” and Russia did not intend to isolate itself nor has any prejudiced or hostile intentions towards anybody and expect that external partners will adhere to the principles of equality and mutual consideration of interests in their relations…
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expresses desperate fears and highly nervous over possible clandestine threats by the United States and its Western allies to derail the second Russia-Africa summit scheduled late July 2023. With the rapid changing geo-political situation, mostly due to its ‘special military operation’ in the neighbouring Ukraine which has adversely affected Africa’s economy and its 1.3 billion population, Russia plans to hold a summit to review and patch up the straddling relations. After the first Russia-Africa summit held in Sochi October 2019, Russia has not delivered on several bilateral agreements that were signed with African countries. Moscow…
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held discussion with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa summit in Sochi, that was on 23 October 2019. The transcript made, available on the official website, Russia and Uganda planned sharing a common task: to develop trade and economic ties and increase mutual trade. “In this respect, I would like to note the decision to create a working group on cooperation in the mineral and raw materials sphere as part of the intergovernmental commission, adopted in October 2017 during a Russian business mission to Kampala,” Putin told Museveni. With its active participation, an…
In an updated foreign policy document which is now available for the general public, Russia would take drastic steps in consolidating its position on the global stage, strengthen its relations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Russia would particularly fight against growing neo-colonial tendencies, which it considers a threat to development, in Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the updated foreign policy document which was complied and presented by the Ministry of Foreign of Affairs. It outlines the main parameters and the key regions as well as contains the strategic directions on the basis of drastic geo-political changes in…
Leading discussions at the United Nations Security Council on challenges posed by increasing terrorism cum extremism and mechanism to eradicate the scourge across Africa, Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi unreservedly shared his country’s unique experiences, progressive approach and success story with the gathering in New York. President Filipe Nyusi, who chaired the lengthy discussions attended by leaders from the Africa and top diplomats, strongly suggested that a better approach in preventing violent extremism must necessarily be through stronger cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in Africa. Mozambique, southern African country, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency in April,…
Beyond the rapidly changing geopolitics, internal economic bottlenecks and all kinds of conflicts have shaken African governance, and posed tremendous challenges for ensuring food security among 1.3 billion population in Africa. The Russia-Ukraine crisis, which began late February 2022, has also pushed prices of consumables resulting into high cost of living, thus complicating already existing economic obstacles across Africa. In an Opp article headlined “Why African leaders have a blind spot for Russia” first published by the Council of Councils from authors of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), said in part “African countries have not reacted well…
In her weekly media briefing on March 23, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, indicated that geopolitical developments are rapidly shifting from the Global North towards the Global South, and that turning around and making a global shift towards the South definite includes Africa as it was during the Soviet times. She admittedly explained that Russia turned its back, and away from Africa during the past three decades, after the collapse of the Soviet era. And that time required consolidating resources and capabilities to move unto a qualitatively new level, and now the internal growth processes were completed, relations with different…
