On May 15, 2020, within the framework of the “Russian Strategy in Africa” Project, RIAC in partnership with Africa Business Initiative (ABI), held an online conference with representatives of the African Diplomatic Corps. The conference was attended by Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Chargé d’affaires a.i. to the Russian Federation from 25 African states, including Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Egypt, DRC, Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
On May 15, 2020, within the framework of the “Russian Strategy in Africa” Project, RIAC in partnership with Africa Business Initiative (ABI), held an online conference with representatives of the African Diplomatic Corps. The conference was attended by Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Chargé d’affaires a.i. to the Russian Federation from 25 African states, including Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Egypt, DRC, Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
The conference participants commended RIAC and Africa Business Initiative Joint Report Africa-Russia: problems, achivments, prospects, that they had previewed in advance. The ambassadors spoke about the problems that their countries had to face in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decisions made to combat the coronavirus. Special attention was given to the problem of global oil crisis, decline in oil prices, and measures taken in oil-producing countries to stabilize the oil market.
The participants noted the timeliness and the importance of the First Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, expressed satisfaction with the results of the summit, and expressed hope for continued successful cooperation between Russia and African countries. Ambassadors of certain countries suggested taking concrete steps to continue cooperation in the field of energy, technology development, environmental protection and nature management, education, and development of mass communication after the pandemic. It was proposed to create a platform for the exchange of experience and best practices.
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of African countries to the Russian Federation expressed hope for continued positive experience in holding videoconferences to discuss prospects for cooperation.
