MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Saturday that strengthening peace and security in Africa is a key condition for ensuring the continent’s progressive, sustainable development and an important element in maintaining global stability.
Speaking at the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Lavrov emphasized Russia’s commitment to supporting African countries in this regard.
“We attach great importance to the issues of strengthening peace and security on the African continent. This is a key condition for ensuring progressive, sustainable socioeconomic development and an important element in maintaining global stability,” he said.
Lavrov noted that Moscow provides assistance to African nations in clearing mines and improvised explosive devices and is expanding professional training programs for military and law enforcement personnel.
“We believe that it is important to transform into practical terms the decision made at the second Russia-Africa Summit to establish a permanent Russian-African dialogue mechanism at the highest level to coordinate all efforts in the field of security,” he added.
The top Russian diplomat stressed that the sustainable resolution of conflicts in Africa requires addressing their root causes, “which stem from the legacy of Western colonialism.”
He criticized the colonial system for “violating the natural historical trajectory of African peoples, arbitrarily drawing borders, and establishing an economic order oriented towards serving the interests of Western metropolitan centers.” “
“Unfortunately, various forms of neocolonialism persist to this day. We are ready to act in concert with our African partners to eradicate them, including through the development of legal instruments for assessing and compensating for the damage inflicted during the colonial period,” Lavrov said.
According to him, the world is witnessing Africa’s “second awakening” and the consolidation of its international authority.
The foreign minister also highlighted the growth in bilateral trade, noting that economic cooperation is strengthening.
“Last year, trade turnover increased by 13%, reaching $28 billion. I am confident that this is far from the limit. We are committed to further unlocking the vast potential of our practical cooperation,” he concluded.
