As per reliable sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that despite facing international sanctions and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between Russia and African countries saw a significant increase of nearly 35% in the first half of 2023.
During a trilateral meeting with the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani President, the Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat Chairperson, Putin highlighted that despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic and unlawful sanctions against Russia, the growth in trade and economic ties with African nations was achieved.
Last year, the mutual trade volume reached approximately 18 billion dollars, and this positive trend continued in the first half of 2023 with a notable 35% increase in trade turnover. In a recent turn of events, Putin also emphasized that Russia remains a dependable food supplier to Africa, with exports of this category amounting to 4.7 billion dollars in 2022.
In light of recent events, in Russia, a few African leaders attended a summit to engage with Putin amidst the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. The Kremlin accused Western powers of attempting to pressure other African heads of state not to participate in the summit, characterizing their efforts as "outrageous."
During the meeting, Azali Assoumani expressed that while they value their partnerships with both Russia and Ukraine, they cannot overlook the repercussions of the conflict, which have global implications, including in Africa. According to credible sources, Putin has portrayed the two-day summit in St. Petersburg as a significant event to strengthen ties with the continent's 1.3 billion people, who are increasingly asserting themselves on the global stage.