Russian President Vladimir Putin has today held a conference with all African leaders in what is dubbed as Russia-Africa summit. Putin and AU’s Chair, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are the brains behind the event held in the coastal resort city of Sochi, Russia.
“This is the first event of this level in the history of Russian-African relations, with the heads of all states of the African continent invited, as well as leaders of major sub-regional associations and organizations”, the statement said.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is also in Russia for the same meeting as according to the State House, He will have a bilateral talk with Russian President Putin.
Putin led Moscow government is implementing the debt-for-development initiative, which is said to ease Africa’s liability burden. Moreover, Russia has written off well over Sh2 Trillion debt post the Soviet Union.
Speaking before the Russia-Africa Forum that all African leaders have attended in Sochi, Putin elucidated that it is fundamental that Russia- Africa co-operations start on a clean page.
“Let me point out that in the post-Soviet period, Russia canceled $20 billion of African countries’ debts to the Soviet Union. This was both an act of generosity and a pragmatic step because many of the African states were struggling to service those debts,” Putin said.
The debts write-offs is linked to Russia’s arms deals with African Countries. For instance, all the debt written-off relates closely to Moscow’s plan to expand Russian Military tech co-operation.
https://youtu.be/0VrMmfaxd6U
Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, Egypt, Nigeria are said to have already signed and benefited from Russian Kremlin arms deal and military technology.
Here are sampled courtesy of Tass pictures of the types of arms and military tech power African countries are said to benefit from.
