By Omar Bah
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the establishment of a new department dedicated to fostering partnerships with African nations. The primary aim of this initiative is to enhance cooperation with countries across the continent. In line with this strategy, Russia plans to open embassies in The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, South Sudan, Niger, and the Comoros.
During the inauguration of this new department, Sergey Lavrov, the head of Russian diplomacy, emphasized that Russia is committed to re-establishing its presence in Africa. He attributed previous neglect to the financial difficulties faced by the Soviet Union and the pro-Western political stance of post-Soviet Russia. Now, he states, Moscow is determined to rectify these past oversights.
“Several factors contributed to the weakening of our ties and diminished interest in the African continent. Among these was the challenging financial situation of the Soviet Union and the independent states that arose from its dissolution, including the Russian Federation. It was an untenable situation, which forced us to close our embassies to conserve resources for foreign policy,” Lavrov explained.
As part of its renewed engagement with Africa, Russia intends to reopen embassies that were previously closed years ago in Liberia, neighbouring Sierra Leone, Gambia, Togo, Niger, the Comoros, and South Sudan.
Recent shifts in relations with Russia have been observed, particularly in Liberia, which had historically denied Russia the right to establish an embassy. However, following the 2023 elections, President Joseph Boakai’s new administration has expressed a commitment to strengthening ties with Russia. Conversely, the opposition Congress for Democratic Change has raised concerns about potential threats to the country’s stability.
Additionally, Russia is not solely focused on diplomatic missions; in November of the previous year, it deployed military instructors to Equatorial Guinea and entered into a military cooperation agreement with Cameroon. These actions are part of a broader strategy to expand Russia’s influence on the continent.
