March 2, 2025 (EIRNS)—On Feb. 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at a ceremony celebrating the establishment of a new Foreign Ministry department, the Department for Partnership with Africa.
“Our African friends have always found a reliable and understanding friend and partner in Russia. Our friendship and partnership are deeply rooted in history. Russia selflessly supported Africans in their heroic struggle against colonial powers for freedom and independence, and assisted in developing young states, their economies, strengthening their defense capabilities, training national specialists, and resolving daunting social challenges.…
“Africans are playing an increasingly significant role in global politics and the economy, and widely participate in addressing international issues. The collective voice of African countries in world affairs is growing louder and clearer. Russia consistently advocates for strengthening Africa’s position in the multipolar world that is objectively taking shape before our eyes. This world must be consistently based on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelation,” Lavrov told the celebration.
He emphasized that there is great potential for economic cooperation with the nations of Africa, especially in the area of logistics and transport corridors, space exploration, and nuclear energy. He also noted that the number of African students studying in Russia continues to increase steadily.
“We are convinced that Africa is our natural ally in our joint endeavors to uphold the UN Charter’s principles of justice and equality.
“It is for this reason that another department dedicated to African affairs, the Department for Partnership with Africa, has been created within the Ministry. This decision reflects our trunk route towards strengthening multifaceted and multiformat ties with the continent and, more broadly, with the Global South and World Majority countries,” he said.
