Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has set out on a diplomatic trip to the African continent in a bid to consolidate their ties amidst the ongoing western sanctions on Moscow.
With Russia positively looking for another alternative market for their goods which have been sanctioned have paved the way for Russia to look the other way out, with diplomatic relations with the Asia continent in place, they set their attention to the African continent which since the Russia invasion of Ukraine had taken a neutral stance against the conflicts.
Russia FM Sergey Lavrov visited Cairo in his first round of Africa trip that will include Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo says Reuters.
On Sunday Lavrov met with Egyptian Officials for a talk as Russia keeps on to avoid diplomatic isolation and sanctions by the west and also with the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit before addressing the permanent representatives of the pan-Arab organization, RT reported.
In Egypt, Lavrov and a top Egyptian diplomat discussed food supply, surging energy prices with other matters of interest. In a joint press conference between Egypt Foreign Minister Shoukry with Russia FM, Shoukry stressed the impact of the Russian war on global food security, saying the crisis has taken its toll on Egypt’s food supply and energy prices.
Lavrov on his side affirmed that “Russia is committed to fulfilling its grain export obligations as per the recent UN-brokered deal signed with Kyiv on Friday.
“We discussed the specific parameters of cooperation in this area, agreed on further contacts between the relevant ministries, and we have a common understanding of the causes of the grain crisis.”
Lavrov on the war in Ukraine, he said “Ukraine was to be blamed for neglecting a peace talk for war at the early period, and warned the west to refrain from its sanction in the face of global food crisis.
Despite not feeling well about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, most African countries oppose any forms of sanctions against Russia hoping to take a neutral stand between the U.S and her western allies and also on their alliance with Moscow.
After meeting with Egypt’s officials, Lavrov arrived in Congo on Sunday evening, hoping to meet with the Country’s President Sassou Nguesszo on Monday, before going to Uganda and Ethiopia on his Africa tour.
Source: Reuters, Euronews, Dpa News agency, AP news.