By Rhod Mackenzie
On March 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia considers Nigeria a priority partner in Africa.
In the current historical context, as countries in the Global South and East, which we refer to as the world majority, increasingly assert their interests on the global stage, we have more opportunities for collaboration. These were the words of the speaker during a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar.Lavrov highlighted the shared commitment of Russia and these nations to eliminating injustice from international relations and promoting equality and balance of interests in line with the principles of the UN Charter.
The Russian government approved a draft agreement on military cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agreement allows for cooperation and exchange of experience in joint troop training, military personnel training, and engineering and technical support. Additionally, the agreement aims to coordinate efforts to counter global and regional security threats and challenges.
On 7th February, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) are increasing their cooperation with Russia. This is because Russia does not create any dividing lines, unlike the West, whose dominance always results in a 'command-administrative push system.'
On January 31, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed concern about Russia's increasing influence in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The French MEP Thierry Mariani previously noted on October 17, 2023, that EU sanctions against Russia have only increased the number of its opponents around the world, and this trend will continue. The MEP believes that the introduction of European sanctions has only exacerbated the problems in Africa, Asia, and South America.