Russian Engagement in Africa

Burkina Faso. There was some attack on the french colonial office = embassy. People want to throw out all european colonisers.

A DM-03 booster with an AngoSat-2 telecoms satellite for Angola separated from the upper stage of the Proton-M carrier rocket that blasted off from the Baikonur spaceport, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene.

It will take the booster several hours to orbit the satellite.

Russia and Angola agreed on creating an AngoSat-2 telecoms satellite instead of the defunct AngoSat-1 space vehicle launched from the Baikonur spaceport on December 26, 2017. Contact with the satellite was lost the next day after its launch.

The AngoSat-2 satellite is based on the Express-1000N platform developed by Russia’s Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company. The payload module that maintains communications in the C, Ku and Ka frequency bands was delivered by Europe’s Airbus Group. The satellite will operate at 23 degrees’ east longitude. The telecoms satellite is designed to operate for 15 years.

Angolan Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication Mario Augusto da Silva Oliveira told reporters on October 11 that the satellite’s operation would begin 90 days after the launch when all technical and technological procedures were over.

https://tass.com/science/1521827

With Putin's statements today it is clear that Russia will not be leaving Africa to the Chinese as they they take over from the West.

It is important enough to have its own thread.

Re below, can't remember the World Bank forgiving significant African debt over the past 15+ years, China yes.

Note that the CAR will be teaching Russian in their schools and Russia is looking at teaching an 'African' language (not sure which) in its.

Nina Byzantina
@NinaByzantina
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1h
More than 40 delegations from almost all African states took part in the Russia-Africa Parliamentary Conference on March 19-20 in Moscow.

The Second Russia-Africa Summit will be held in July 2023 in Saint Petersburg.

Russia gave the west every chance to have good relations and the west could no bring itself to treat Russia with respect.

The state of affairs was that Russia already supplied goods and services to the whole world, but most of that trade was through western intermediaries like western shipping companies using western insurance and western based international markets to sell their goods.

Here in New Zealand I buy from local gun shops, but those local gun shops buy the Russian ammo they stock from a German company... and surprise surprise they can't get any Russian ammo at the moment.

Trading through western markets and western companies means we are stuck with western sanctions even if they are not relevant to us at all, and the same politics will effect all sorts of other areas too.

What Russia will now find it needs to do is explore the rest of the world directly without going through established western trade links to form their own relationships... and the world will benefit from this because when Russia sells direct to the rest of the world the west wont be taking a cut and adding to the price the rest of the world pays... Russian companies can earn a little more and the customer can pay a little less for Russian goods, and the west will no longer earn income from international trade that they really don't have that much to do with now that they don't make anything any more.

According to the Zimbabwean presidential communication office, of the 18 helicopters delivered 12 are air ambulances while 6 are designed for law enforcement. The fleet will officially reach 32 by year 2025.

Musicians with evacuated Chinese miners somewhere in CAR

Russia's Rosatom plans to start experimental uranium mining in Tanzania in 2023, 07.19.2023.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian state-owned Rosatom corporation announced plans to start the extraction and experimental processing of uranium ore in Tanzania between 2023 and 2025.

"Between 2023 and 2025, it is planned to start the extraction and experimental processing of the mineral. According to the approved plans, the plant should be built and put into operation in 2023. To date, about 85% of all work has been completed," the Russian corporation informed Sputnik on the eve of the Russia-Africa summit.

This is the project called Mkuju River with the Nyota deposit, which is one of the largest in the world with a resource reserve of 152 million tons of ore.

Rosatom added that at the test operation stage it is planned to produce five tons of the "yellowcake" (uranium oxide) and reach the production of 3,000 tons of uranium per year.

As previously reported, it is planned to use a technology called in Situ Leaching (ISL), which is currently the main means of obtaining uranium worldwide.

Yellowcake or uranium oxide is a concentrated product obtained by pulverizing uranium ore. The yellow cake is used to prepare the fuel for nuclear reactors.

Atomic technologies for Africa's development will be one of the topics to be discussed during the second Russia-Africa summit to be held on July 27-28 in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. The Sputnik agency will act as an information partner of the event.

Yandex Translate from Spanish

https://sputniknews.lat/20230719/la-rusa-rosatom-preve-empezar-la-extraccion-experimental-de-uranio-en-tanzania-en-2023-1141696299.html

The West has missed the great return of Russia to the African continent, by Kirill Strelnikov for SputnikMundo. 07.26.2023.

On July 27, the second Russia-Africa Summit begins in St. Petersburg, which is already causing deep discomfort from the West: according to the spokesman of the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, practically all African states have been subjected to unprecedented pressure from the United States and allies to prevent their attendance at the event.

The threats and blackmail did not work: high-ranking delegates from 49 African countries, representing the absolute majority of the continent's states, arrived in St. Petersburg to open a big new page in relations with Russia and demonstrate once again that the country's international isolation has failed miserably.

It may seem strange that relations between Russia and African states have always been a cause of concern for the West. But with the beginning of the military operation, Russia announced the course to change the world system based on the domination of the billion gold, which was perceived by Western countries as a serious threat to their fundamentally colonial well-being, and Russia's pivot to the south and the east began to turn their terrible dream into reality.

As a result, for example, in April of this year the US Congress passed the law "to counter Russia's influence and malign activities", and the African landing in St. Petersburg caused a real hysteria in the West.

What are the reasons for such anger and indignation? Why is the West so afraid of Russia's return to Africa? The answer is simple and complex at the same time.
To begin with, according to experts' estimates, Africa has more than 30% of all the world's natural resources: 7% of the world's natural gas reserves, 8% of the world's oil reserves, 9.6% of the world's iron ore reserves, 35% of chromium reserves, more than 40% of bauxite reserves, 50% of cobalt and manganese reserves, 90% of platinum group metals, 10% of copper reserves, 50% of those of phosphate rock, 11.5% of those of lithium, etc.

Many deposits have not yet been explored and exploited, and Russian experience in mining and mineral processing is already in high demand there, and after the summit the landscape may change radically.

In addition, Africa is a continent whose current potential is compared to that of China at the end of the twentieth century. A simple example: in 1990 the gross domestic product (GDP) of China was 770,000 million dollars, while the GDP of Ukraine at that time was 400,000 million dollars annually. Today, China's GDP is $8.3 trillion annually.

The fact is that Africa is experiencing explosive growth, both demographic and economic. The African population is already around 1,500 million inhabitants, and in 2050 it will be 3,000 million. The African population is young, its cities are urbanizing rapidly and this continent is about to experience a manufacturing and consumption boom that will be mind-blowing.

With skyrocketing demand, there is little competition in the African market and, in many countries of the continent, the threshold for entry into any market is minimal. All this means enormous potential for those involved in the development of industries, manufacturing and social sectors.

Russia's large-scale cooperation with Africa is a unique case in which both sides can greatly benefit, and Moscow is determined to make the most of this historic opportunity.

Russia also has a decisive advantage in Africa that practically no one else has. This advantage is the historical ties and positive image of Russia in African countries, established in the Soviet era, and the country's active role in the decolonization of the continent. Trust, sympathy, lack of national prejudices and aggravating historical experience are a powerful capital that no amount of money can buy. And Russia has a lot to offer.

African countries are ready to cooperate in various vectors: from agricultural machinery, communication systems, energy solutions and industrial technologies to petroleum products, airplanes, pipelines, fertilizers and even ice cream (which have become a real success in Africa).

All this suggests that the expected growth of Russia's trade turnover with Africa, from the current 18,000-19,000 million dollars to 200,000 million annually, is by no means an exaggeration, but only the beginning.

The big game is seen from afar, and Russia returns to Africa to stay.

Yandex Translate from Spanish

https://sputniknews.lat/20230726/occidente-se-ha-perdido-el-gran-retorno-de-rusia-al-continente-africano-1141936185.html

dana
@dana916
$18 Billion trade between the Russian Federation and African countries last year, but the potential for partnership is much higher.

Russian companies want to work more actively in Africa in the field of high technologies, geological exploration, the fuel and energy complex, including nuclear energy, as well as in the chemical industry, mining, transport engineering, agriculture and fisheries.

Zlatti71
@djuric_zlatko
Main of Putin's statements at the Russia-Africa summit:

A number of manifestations of colonialism are not obsolete and are still practised by former metropolises;

The era of hegemony of one or a few states is a thing of the past, but not without resistance on their part;

The positions of the Russian Federation and African countries on international issues are very close or fully coincide;

Russia and Africa do not accept unilateral sanctions and "punitive" restrictive measures against states;

Russia and Africa oppose the use of topics on climate, human rights and "gender agenda" for disreputable political purposes;

Russia is not in favour of self-isolation, but of cooperation among equal states;

Africa is becoming a new centre of power, and all will have to reckon with it;

Russia does not avoid discussing the Ukrainian crisis;

Sovereignty is not"a state that has been achieved once" and must be constantly fought for;

Russia respects Africa's peace initiatives on Ukraine and is considering them;

Russia is in favour of expanding Africa's representation in the Security Council and other UN structures, "the time has come to correct historical injustices";

Russia will continue to train African military and police at its specialised universities;

The situation in many regions of Africa remains unstable, a legacy of the colonial era and the West's "divide and rule" policy;

Russia's attention to Africa is steadily growing, and Moscow is ready to restore and open new foreign missions on the continent;

Russian business has a lot to offer to partners from Africa;

Moscow will help African countries to open new embassies and consulates in Russia;

Russia will always be a responsible international supplier of agricultural goods;

The total amount of debts of African countries cancelled by Russia is 23 billion dollars, Moscow will allocate another 90 million dollars for this purpose.

#source

@Slavyangrad

Join SLG Intelligence Briefings, Strategy and Analysis, Expert Community
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Russia is isolated

Note the 'IBM' dress standard dominates, dark suit/white shirt.

Isolation continues

The total amount of debts of African countries cancelled by Russia is 23 billion dollars, Moscow will allocate another 90 million dollars for this purpose.

Just caught this message on the BBC news and they didn't say it was 23 billion dollars worth of debt being cancelled, they said it was a few hundred million...

If they said it was 23 billion then how could their claims that China and Russia are trying to do to the rest of the world what the colonial europeans have been doing... get them trapped in a debt spiral and then you control them.

BRICS is not about control, it is about free and open trade and support and cooperation to help each other develop and grow and become wealthy so your populations can live the good life too.

The Russia-Global South Connection: Africa as Strategic Partner, by Pepe Escobar for Strategic Culture Foundation. 07.29.2023.

The second Russia-Africa summit, this week in St. Petersburg, should be seen as a milestone in terms of Global South integration and the concerted drive by the Global Majority towards a more equal and fair multipolar order.

The summit welcomes no less than 49 African delegations. President Putin previously announced that a comprehensive declaration and a Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan all the way to 2026 will be adopted.

Madaraka Nyerere, the son of Tanzania’s legendary anti-colonial activist and first President, Julius Nyerere, set the context, telling RT that the only “realistic” way for Africa to develop is to unite and stop being an agent for foreign exploitative powers.

And the path towards cooperation goes through BRICS – starting with the crucial upcoming summit in South Africa, and the incorporation of more African nations into BRICS+.

Nyerere’s father was a very important force behind the Organization of African Unity, which later became the African Union.

South Africa’s Julius Malema succinctly expanded the geoeconomic concept of a united Africa: “They [neocolonial powers] thrive on the division of the African continent. Can you imagine the minerals of the DRC combined with the minerals of South Africa, and with a new currency based on the minerals? What can we do to the dollar? If we become a United States of Africa, with our minerals alone, we can defeat the dollar.”

No humanitarian nature, no deal

The Russian-African Conference of the Valdai Club functioned like a sort of final expert watch synchronization in the run-up to St. Petersburg. The first session was particularly relevant.

That came after the publication of a comprehensive analysis by President Putin of Russia-Africa relations, with a special emphasis on the recently collapsed grain deal involving the UN, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.

Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Russian Federation Council, has stressed how “Ukraine, Washington and NATO were interested in the grain corridor for sabotage”.

In his Op-Ed, Putin explained how, “for almost a year, a total of 32.8 million tons of cargo were exported from Ukraine under the ‘deal’, of which more than 70%
went to high-and above-middle-income countries, including the European Union, while countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, as well as Yemen and Afghanistan accounted for less than 3% of the total volume – less than one million tons.”

So that was one of the key reasons for Russia to leave the grain deal. Moscow published a list of requirements which would need to be fulfilled for Russia to reinstate it.

Among them: a real, practical end to sanctions on Russian grain and fertilizers shipped to world markets; no more obstacles for banks and financial institutions; no more restrictions on charter of ships and insurance – that means clean logistics for all food supplies; restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline.

And a particularly crucial item: the restoration of “the original humanitarian nature of the grain deal.”

There’s no way the collective West subjected to the Straussian neocon psychos who control US foreign policy will fulfill all or even some of these conditions.

So Russia, by itself, will offer grain and fertilizers free of charge for the poorest nations and contracts for grain supply at normal commercial terms for the others. Supply is guaranteed: Moscow had the biggest grain harvest ever during this season.

This is all about solidarity. At the Valdai session, a key discussion was around the importance of solidarity in the struggle against neo-colonialism and for global equality and justice.

Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, stressed how European “former” partners persist on the one-way track of shifting blame to Russia as Africa is “acquiring agency” and “denying neo-colonialism.”

Ozerov mentioned how “France-Afrique is collapsing – and Russia is not behind it. Russia is ensuring that Africa acts as one of the powers of the multipolar world”, as “a member of the G20 and present in the UN Security Council.” Moreover, Moscow is interested to expand Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) free trade deals towards Africa.

Welcome to Global South “multi-vector” cooperation

This all spells out a common theme in the Russia-Africa summit: “multi-vector cooperation”. The South African perspective, especially in the light of the raging controversy over Putin’s non-physical presence in the BRICS summit, is that “Africans are not taking sides. They want peace.”

What matters is what Africa brings to BRICS: “Markets, and a young, educated population.”

On the Russian bridge to Africa, what is needed, for instance, is “railways along coastlines”: connectivity, which can be developed with Russian assistance, much as China has been investing widely across Africa under BRI projects. Russia, after all, “trained many professionals across Africa.”

There’s a wide consensus, to be reflected in the summit, that Africa is becoming an economic growth pole in the Global South – and African experts know it. State institutions are becoming more stable. The abysmal crisis in Russia-Western relations ended up boosting interest in Africa. No wonder that’s now a national priority for Russia.

So what can Russia offer? Essentially an investment portfolio, and crucially the idea of sovereignty – without requesting anything in return.

Mali is a fascinating case. It goes back to investments by the USSR training the workforce; at least 10,000 Malians, who were offered first-class education, including 80% of their professors.

That intersects with the terrorism threat of the Salafi-jihadi variety, “encouraged” by the usual suspects even before 9/11. Mali holds at least 350,000 refugees, all of them unemployed. France’s “initiatives” have been deemed “totally inefficient”.

Mali needs “broader measures” – including the launch of a new trading system. Russia after all taught how to set up infrastructure to create new jobs; time to fully profit from the knowledge of those trained in the USSR. Moreover, in 2023 over 100 students from Mali are coming to Russia on state-sponsored scholarships.

As Russia makes inroads in French-speaking Africa, former “partners”, predictably, demonize Mali’s cooperation with Russia. With no avail. Mali has just dropped French as its official language (that has been the case since 1960).

Under the new constitution, passed overwhelmingly with 96.9% in a June 15 referendum, French will be only a working language, while 13 national languages will also receive official language status.

Essentially, this is about sovereignty. Coupled with the fact that the West, as recognized from Mali to Ethiopia – the only African nation never colonized by Europeans – is losing moral authority across Africa at astonishing speed.

Multitudes in Africa now understand that Russia actively encourages freedom from neocolonialism. When it comes to geopolitical capital, Moscow now seems to enjoy all it takes to build a fruitful, Global Majority-centered strategic partnership.

https://www.unz.com/pescobar/the-russia-global-south-connection-africa-as-strategic-partner/

Zlatti71
@djuric_zlatko
The main statement of Vladimir Putin at a press conference following the Second Russia-Africa Summit:

Africa remembers the concrete assistance of the USSR in its liberation, its "voice and Kalashnikov";

The African continent as a whole is extremely friendly and positive towards Russia, despite the difference in opinions in individual countries;

African countries sincerely want an end to the conflict in Ukraine, remembering it kindly as part of the Soviet Union;

Russia cannot fulfill the African Peace Initiative's ceasefire clause because Ukraine is conducting a large-scale offensive;

Some points of the African Peace Initiative on Ukraine are already being implemented, including the exchange of prisoners;

The African peace initiative to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, along with the Chinese and other similar proposals, can be the basis for building peace processes;

Africa buys weapons from Russia without fear of outside pressure;

Free deliveries of Russian grain to the poorest countries in Africa will begin within the next 3-4 months;

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have recently been trying to attack Russian positions on foot, they are protecting military equipment and are afraid of losing it;

Ukrainian troops have lost 415 tanks and more than 1,300 armored vehicles of various classes since the start of the counter-offensive in June;

Putin called the story of the alleged abduction of children in Ukraine by the Russian Federation "inflated", stressed that it was the salvation of children;

There are no problems with the return of children to relatives in Ukraine;

Russia remains the world leader in the sale of wheat and fertilizers;

The Russian Federation, having delivered free food to Africa, will share with it part of the income from the growth in world grain prices as a result of the end of the grain deal;

Ukrainian troops are stopped and driven back wherever they tried to advance;

Africa is still suffering from terrorism, for the countries of the continent it is important to work in the field of security, without which stability and, consequently, economic development cannot be achieved;

Russian troops in the zone of responsibility of the commander of the "Center" grouping of troops, Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, not only repel the attacks of Ukraine, but also launch a counteroffensive and move forward;

There were agreements between Russia and Turkey on the presence of Azov militants in Turkey (recognized as terrorist, banned in the Russian Federation);

The suspension of the grain deal by Russia has nothing to do with the transfer by Turkey of the commanders of the nationalist battalion "Azov" (recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in the Russian Federation) to Ukraine;

Russia is ready for any scenario, but does not want a direct military clash with the United States.

@TASS

@Slavyangrad

Russia donates Mi-38 helicopter to Zimbabwe





https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4732001.html