Tracking the second Russia-Africa Summit

by: | 28 June 2021 12:25

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Tracking the second Russia-Africa Summit

On June 23, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held diplomatic talks with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), Demeke Mekonnen, who arrived on an official working visit to the Russian F

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On June 23, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held diplomatic talks with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), Demeke Mekonnen, who arrived on an official working visit to the Russian Federation, after wrapping up an earlier visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ahead of his arrival, the Russian Foreign Ministry in a brief media statement highlighted the significance of the planned talks and particularly noted the deep satisfaction about the ongoing development of the Russian-Ethiopian political dialogue, and the constructive interaction within the United Nations and other international organizations.

The statement further identified key areas of Russian-Ethiopian cooperation, including the promotion of promising mutually beneficial projects in the fields of energy, infrastructure and agriculture. It further added that necessary steps would be taken to strengthen the bilateral legal framework.

During the first Russia-Africa summit held in October 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiye Ahmed. They discussed the bilateral agenda, planned to have many promising projects designed to expand the volume of trade and economic cooperation.

"Dear Mr. Minister, Glad to see you in Moscow. We appreciate our regular political dialogue at the highest and highest level. We remember the fundamental agreements reached in October 2019 in Sochi as part of the Russia-Africa summit,” Sergey Lavrov said in his opening remarks while welcoming Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen.

Lavrov said: "We are very interested in the continuation of our mutually beneficial interaction and put forward joint initiatives. Of course, it is very important to hear your assessments of the situation on the African continent and the activities of the African Union, whose headquarters is located in Addis Ababa. I know that you are interested, actively participating in the preparation of the second Russia-Africa summit in 2022.”

Russian officials have turned their focus, intensifying consultations with the African Union and Foreign Ministries of African countries, on preparation for the second Russia-Africa summit scheduled for 2022. Apparently, a number of African Foreign Ministers have visited Moscow over the past two to three months, and more yet to come, and that intended to keep the bilateral political dialogue and to make preliminary review of policy achievements after the historic gathering in Sochi.

On the other hand, Ethiopia has expressed absolute readiness to host the summit. That was the outcome of the discussion held on April 22 between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, and Ambassador-at-Large, and Head of the Secretariat of Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (RAPF), Oleg Ozerov, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Significant to recall here that the first summit, indeed opened a new solid chapter, and concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration. According to official documents, 92 agreements and contracts, and memoranda of understanding were signed during the economic forum held as part of the summit, co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian leader, Abdelfattah Al-Sisi.

That beautiful city as summit venue attracted 43 Heads of State or Government and more than 6,000 participants from Russia, Africa and a number of foreign countries. With that numerical strength and symbolism, combined with the mountain of pledges and promises resulting from various discussions, there is now the need to move systematically to make noticeable marks on the next stage – a stage that definitely requires the intensification of geopolitical competition involving numerous regional and outside players. Russians, however, dream of hitting their targets to reflect the longstanding, time-tested relationship.

Many experts have argued that Russia fears risking broader investments, thus becomes invisible especially in building infrastructure, modernizing agriculture, in manufacturing and industry. Understandably, Russia government is very cautious about making public financial commitments and, at the same Russian financial institutions are not closely involved in foreign policy initiatives in Africa.

On April 29, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), a powerful Russian NGO that focuses on foreign policy and global affairs, held an online conference with participation of experts on Africa. Chairing the discussion, Igor Ivanov, former Foreign Affairs Minister and now RIAC President, made an opening speech. He pointed out that Russia's task in Africa is to present a strategy and define concrete priorities with the countries of the continent, build on the decisions of the first Russia-Africa summit.

On the development of cooperation between Russia and African countries, Igor Ivanov pointed out a few steps here: "Russia's task is to prevent a rollback in relations with African countries. It is necessary to use the momentum set by the first Russia-Africa summit. First of all, it is necessary for Russia to define clearly its priorities: why are we returning to Africa? Just to make money, strengthen our international presence, help African countries or to participate in the formation of the new world order together with the African countries? Some general statements of a fundamental nature were made at the first summit, now it is necessary to move from general statements to specificity.”

Despite the existing challenges including negative narratives and negative perceptions, Moscow primarily plans to boost Russia's presence and raise its political and economic influence in Africa. The first is to hold top-level summits, once every three years, alternately in Russia and in Africa.

Still from the Black Sea city Sochi, with the joint declaration, which is a comprehensive well-structured long-term policy document and offers a more positive outlook, the two sides have resolved to move from mere intentions to concrete actions with the set goals and tasks for further development of multifaceted relations between Russia and Africa.