Putin affirms Moscow readiness to continue multifaceted assistance to Africa

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2023 (FBC) – The Second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia-Africa in a Multipolar World” organized by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation was held in Moscow.

More than 40 delegations from 39 African countries as well as the African Parliamentary Union attended the event. Twelve heads of parliament or their chambers from 11 states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa and Zimbabwe were present.

Embassy of Russia in Addis Ababa said in news release that the total number of participants, including invited experts, was about 300 people.

The conference program, in addition to the plenary and closing sessions on March 20, included a business breakfast with representatives of the business community, thematic round tables, as well as protocol events and a cultural program.

A number of heads of delegations met with Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.

The central event was the address by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the Conference, in which he praised the development of Russian-African relations, based on strong historical traditions and reaching the level of strategic partnership.

The Head of the Russian state confirmed, in contrast to the neocolonial aspirations of the West, the solidarity of the Russian Federation with the peoples of Africa in their struggle for true sovereignty and socio-economic progress.

The Russian leader expressed his conviction that Africa will become one of the leaders of the emerging new multipolar world order.

President Putin placed particular emphasis on Moscow’s readiness to continue multifaceted assistance to Africa, helping to ensure its food security, replacing grain supplies from Ukraine to African countries within the Black Sea grain deal with domestic ones, and at no expense, in case if Russia will decide not to extend this deal.

The President also highlighted the special role of parliaments in creating a more favorable environment for promoting Russian-African cooperation in all major fields in the context of preparations for the second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg on July 26-29 this year.

“The motive of Russian-African unity in the struggle for a more just world order based on respect for the sovereign rights of states, freedom of choice, and commitment to traditional values also resounded in the addresses of the heads of both chambers of the Russian parliament.”

Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin called for more active use of the arsenal of parliamentary diplomacy between Russia and Africa, suggesting holding conferences in the current format annually.

Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko emphasized her support for the desire of Africans not only to end the colonial legacy, but also to obtain fair material compensation from the former metropolises for damage.

The African participants expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for the assistance provided in the Soviet and Russian periods, and expressed hopes for its continuation on a new basis: with the promotion of investment and technological aspects, but preserving the traditional areas of cooperation.

The world has heard from African parliamentarians in Moscow assessments imbued with sincere sympathy and gratitude for Russia, that once again demonstrates the formation of a new world majority that rejects the West’s efforts to impose its so-called rule-based order.