**Title: West Accused of Pressuring African Nations Ahead of Russia-Africa Summit**
**Date: October 25, 2023**
As the October 28-29 Russia-Africa Summit approaches, Russia has accused Western nations of exerting pressure on African states to deter their participation. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, made these claims during a press briefing on Wednesday, asserting that this pressure reflects a colonial mentality that seeks to dictate the foreign policy choices of African nations.
The upcoming summit in Moscow is expected to see the attendance of leaders from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Alimov. These countries have notably strengthened their ties with Russia in recent years, a trend that has raised concerns among Western powers.
Zakharova stated, “We are certainly observing attempts by our detractors in Western nations to pressure African partners in an effort to prevent them from coming to Moscow.” She emphasized that this behavior is indicative of a failure by former colonial powers to adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape.
While Zakharova did not specify which Western countries are involved in these alleged efforts, she expressed confidence that African states would assert their sovereignty and pursue independent foreign policies based on their national interests. She believes that the summit will feature broad representation from African nations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously highlighted concerns regarding France's influence, suggesting that President Emmanuel Macron might attempt to dissuade African leaders from attending the summit during a planned trip to Africa. Lavrov indicated that these suspicions were based on “certain facts,” although he did not elaborate further.
This is not the first time Russian officials have raised alarms about Western interference in African affairs. Earlier this year, Zakharova mentioned similar attempts to obstruct African participation in the 2023 summit and future ministerial conferences scheduled for Sochi in 2024 and Cairo in 2025. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also accused the US, France, and other Western nations of using their diplomatic missions in Africa to pressure governments against engaging with Russia, arguing that such actions undermine the sovereign rights of African states to choose their partners.
Tensions surrounding African nations' relationships with Moscow have also affected economic ties. In 2023, senior US lawmakers questioned South Africa's eligibility for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), citing the country's military cooperation with Russia. Additionally, there were discussions about relocating an annual US-Africa trade forum out of South Africa due to these ties.
Despite these pressures, the US has publicly stated that African countries should have the freedom to choose their own partners. In 2022, then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted, “America will not dictate Africa’s choices. Neither should anyone else.”
The inaugural Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi in 2019 was attended by delegations from all 54 African countries, with 45 represented by heads of state or government. The second summit in St. Petersburg in 2023 saw participation from 48 countries, with 27 represented by high-ranking officials.
As the upcoming summit draws near, the dynamics between Western nations and African states, particularly regarding their relationships with Russia, continue to evolve. The outcome of the summit and the level of African participation may further illuminate the shifting geopolitical landscape in the region.