Faith Nyasuguta
Russia continues to strengthen its relationships in Africa, recently partnering with Comoros on significant issues. Days ago, during the 33rd summit of the League of Arab States in Manama, Comoros disclosed its shared interests with the Kremlin.
According to the Russian newspaper Sputnik, Comoros President Azali Assoumani (pictured above) and Russian Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, emphasized the importance of enhancing dialogue and aligning positions at the United Nations, particularly concerning conflict resolution in Africa.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that both nations are focused on deepening political dialogue and coordinating stances in the UN and other multilateral platforms, especially on African conflict resolution and addressing modern challenges based on the principle of “African problems – African solutions.”
The Ministry also noted that the discussions covered key areas for developing friendly Russian-Comoran relations, highlighting the importance of building a mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership. This includes cooperation in fisheries, maritime transport, agriculture, energy, and personnel training, as reported by Sputnik.
Following last summer’s Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, there has been a significant increase in bilateral ties between Russia and Comoros. President Assoumani, who was the African Union chairman at the time, attended the summit and mentioned that several African nations, including Comoros, plan to host the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit.
In a related development, Mauritius is currently seeking to partner with Russia. Last year, Mauritius’s ambassador to Russia, Heswar Janke, told Russian media that in the context of the rapidly changing global landscape, Russia has become an increasingly important “player” for the small island nation. This partnership could include the prospective use of Russian Mir payment cards.
Amid Russia’s expanding influence in Africa, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently highlighted the significance of African partnerships. He stated that African countries are allies of Russia on many international issues, including the defense of the principles of the UN Charter.
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