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Russia is seeking to woo African countries this weekend at a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, with President Vladimir Putin promising the continent “total support”.
Facing isolation in the West following its full-scale offensive against Ukraine, Moscow has tried to build new partnerships across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, promoting itself as a bulwark against what it calls Western domination on the international arena.
“Our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors,” Putin said in a speech read out by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to other foreign ministers and senior officials.
The Kremlin leader, not attending the conference, said Russia’s relations with Africa have been strengthening “more and more” in recent years.
The conference is another chance for Russia to promote its vision of a “multipolar world” – a month after it hosted a Brics summit of major emerging economies.
Russia was a major player in Africa in Soviet times and has been growing in influence on the continent in recent years, including militarily.