Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo: Sudan Makes Its Voice Heard

Cairo – Sudanhorizon- Sabah Moussa

Recent years have witnessed Russian attempts to further gain African trust and elevate relations with the continent’s countries from modest cooperation to economic partnership. This is part of a broader effort to secure a foothold and inherit the legacy of Western colonialism.

Meanwhile, Africans welcome these attempts with optimism and seek relationships built on equality and mutual respect to break free from Western dominance and achieve a multi-polar world order, one in which they can finally establish the justice that has long eluded Africa.

Strengthening Relations

In this context, the Egyptian capital, Cairo, hosted a high-level meeting within the framework of Russian-African cooperation. The meeting brought together officials, diplomats, and representatives from several African countries, along with a Russian delegation.

This gathering took place amidst rapid changes within the international and regional stages. The meeting aimed to strengthen the Russian-African partnership and explore prospects for joint cooperation in the political, economic, energy, and security sectors.

Discussions also focused on development issues and the challenges facing the African continent presently. The sessions included discussions on ways to increase trade and Russian investment in Africa, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology sectors. Cooperation in food security and the transfer of industrial expertise were also addressed. Furthermore, the meeting addressed the evolving security situation in several African countries, especially in the Sahel and West Africa, emphasizing the importance of respecting national sovereignty, rejecting foreign interference, and supporting national solutions for challengres facing those nations.

Growing Momentum
This meeting comes amidst the growing momentum of Russian-African relations, following the recent Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023 in Russia. Many African countries are seeking to diversify their international partnerships and explore cooperation models based on mutual interests and free from political dictates.

Through these forums, Russia aims to circumvent sanctions and isolation. It views Africa as a crucial arena for ambitious economic, political, security, and cultural cooperation, given Africa’s vast potential, which has been greatly exploited by the United States and Western countries, particularly France.

For their part, African nations are seeking a partner to help them combat the terrorism they have suffered for decades, as well as to benefit from increased economic cooperation that would facilitate arms imports without complications and provide them with unrestricted loans. This has not been possible with the United States and France, which have imposed obstacles and restrictions.

African peoples perceive this as a new form of colonialism they wish to escape, and they are searching for an alternative that will help them achieve economic and political independence, rid them of terrorism, and educate and train their youth.

What Russia understands well and is trying to implement is what allows Moscow to gain ground in the areas vacated by France and the United States. The latter has lost interest in Africa in recent years, which has greatly facilitated Russia’s significant expansion on the continent.

Washington’s voluntary withdrawal, coupled with France’s failure to combat terrorism and its economic dominance in Africa, paved the way for Moscow’s comfortable entry. However, Russia has not yet achieved significant gains, has not filled the security vacuum, and has not presented itself as a convincing alternative in the fight against terrorism. The dream of using local currencies in trade and abandoning the dollar remains elusive.
This is precisely what Russia understands and is attempting to implement.

Sudan’s Participation

Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Lamia Abdel Ghaffar, addressed the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum on Saturday, praising Russia’s strong support for Sudan during its current crisis.

The minister stated that Sudan looks forward to building strategic relations with Russia, noting in this regard the joint signing of the economic and trade cooperation protocol between the two countries last September.

She emphasized the political will to develop bilateral relations between Khartoum and Moscow, which will reach seventy years of constructive cooperation, mutual understanding, and a keen and proactive vision for their development by next year.

The minister highlighted the importance of the Russia-Africa partnership through the outcomes of the two summits, ministerial meetings, the 2023-2026 action plan, and the expected outcomes of the current conference.

She said that this development will contribute to realizing the African dream of effectively implementing the continent’s Agenda 2063. She commended the growing bilateral relations between Russia and a number of African countries, praising the Russian principles based on equal sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the exchange of benefits based on mutual interest.

She also stressed the importance of comprehensive reforms to the international system, in particular, the UN Security Council and the international and economic system, in line with the principles of fair and equitable distribution of opportunities as stipulated in the UN Charter.

She emphasized that the double standards and violations practiced by some countries can only lead to further divisions and conflicts. She added that Sudan looks forward to the Russian-African partnership laying a solid foundation for interconnected and constructive relations that contribute to combating negative phenomena such as terrorism, mercenary activity, and transnational crime, in order to establish strong pillars for peace, security, and stability.

A Supportive Foundation

For his part, the Sudanese Ambassador to Moscow, Mohamed Al-Ghazali Al-Tijani, affirmed that the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russian-African Partnership is of particular importance to Sudan.

Al-Ghazali told Sudanhorizon that Russia has supported Sudan and was among the first countries to affirm its sovereignty and the importance of preserving its legitimate institutions.

He added that Russia has stood firmly against foreign interference in Sudanese affairs in international forums, especially in the UN Security Council. He pointed out to the importance of holding this meeting which stems from the fact that the meeting explored the foundations for strengthening trade and economic relations and established a clear action plan. It was noted that Sudan had signed a protocol for economic and trade cooperation with Russia last September, encompassing numerous areas of collaboration.

The outcomes of this meeting and the action plan for the coming years will serve as a supportive basis for bilateral Russian-Sudanese efforts to develop relations to broader horizons in vital sectors for both countries.

Significant Development

Ghazali noted that the conference is being held at a time when Russian-African relations are witnessing significant development, prompting leaders on both sides to work on establishing structural frameworks to strengthen this relationship.

He stated that this involves taking practical steps to develop it through the 2023-2026 Action Plan, which was approved at the Russia-Africa Summit held in Russia in 2023.

He added that observers can see the growth of this relationship reflected in the figures, with the trade exchange between Russia and Africa increasing by 15%, reaching $28 billion. He pointed out that this provides a strong foundation for working to enhance and develop this relationship.

He added that this meeting aims to approve the joint statement, which includes sections on all areas of cooperation and ways to promote them in various political, security, and economic fields, as well as in education, health, culture, sports, and media. He further elaborated that this meeting paves the way for the third Russia-Africa Summit to be held next year in Africa and for the approval of the new Action Plan for the years 2026-2029.

Comprehensive and Comprehensive

Ghazali said he considered Sudan’s participation with a high-level delegation, headed by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Lamia Abdel Ghaffar, to be a success.

He said that the Minister’s statement before the forum was comprehensive and thorough, addressing Sudan’s vision for Russian-African relations in a world witnessing numerous changes, fluctuations, and sharp polarizations.

He explained that the Minister emphasized the importance of close coordination and continuous consultation so that this partnership contributes to the exchange of benefits and interests between the two sides without dictates or agendas targeting the sovereignty and unity of African countries.

He said that Sudan was able to make its voice heard in this important international forum that reflects the reality of what is happening in the country and the grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the terrorist militia, calling for holding accountable of their supporters and the importance of upholding the principle of no impunity.

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