By John Ikani
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov kicked off his African tour on Monday with a visit to Guinea, the first of three countries he plans to engage with to bolster Moscow’s influence.
The visit was announced by Russia’s foreign ministry on Telegram.
Lavrov’s tour will also take him to Chad and Burkina Faso, as per reports from Russian state media.
Russian isolation
The trip is part of Moscow’s strategy to strengthen ties with African nations amid increasing international isolation.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, its relations with Western countries have sharply declined.
Despite opposition from the African Union and several African capitals, many African nations, including Guinea, abstained from UN resolutions calling for Russia to withdraw its troops.
Boosting African ties
Last July, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted numerous African leaders at the second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg.
At the summit, Russia pledged to deliver grain to several African nations and discussed enhancing economic and security cooperation with the continent.
Russia’s primary economic interests in Africa focus on exports of grain, weapons, minerals, and nuclear energy.
In 2021, more than 70 percent of Russia’s trade with Africa was with just four countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa.
