Kremlin chief Putin sees Africa as the continent of the future

2023-07-28 18:08:00

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is trying to expand his power in Africa, which is why he ensnared his guests on the second day of the Africa summit in St. Petersburg: In his eagerly awaited speech, the Russian president referred to the growing political and economic role of the African states. But when the head of the African Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, criticized Putin’s “play on hunger in Africa,” the TV broadcast was cut short. However, according to the Kremlin, Russia has signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation with more than 40 countries on the African continent. Russia also wants to expand its presence in Africa, opening new consulates and embassies and expanding the staff in existing diplomatic missions, he announced.

The Russia-Africa summit was criticized in the West as a “PR show” and as an attempt by Putin to make African countries even more dependent on Russia.

Yesterday, the head of the Wagner mercenary group turned up as a surprise guest in Saint Petersburg. The putschist Yevgeny Prigoshin, who now lives in exile in Belarus, met representatives of African states to secure the business of his mercenaries in Africa.

This also made it clear why the punishment of the Wagner boss after his uprising just a month ago was so mild. Because for Putin’s Africa policy, the Wagner troops are still an important tool with which the Russian ruler can also secure interests on African soil.