Putin calls for common responses to threats at Russia-Africa summit
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mali Actu
At the Russia-Africa summit, Vladimir Putin called for common responses to universal threats, while taking into account the specific concerns of regions such as the Sahel and the Sahara. The Russian president also discussed priorities expressed by African leaders, according to TASS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on African countries to develop common responses to threats affecting the continent, while taking into account the realities specific to the Sahara, the Sahel, North Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa, according to the Russian news agency TASS. He said that some difficulties were specific to each region, but that many threats were universal in nature and required collective solutions.
The Russia-Africa summit’s discussions also covered trade, investment, the modernisation of payment systems and food security. The declaration of the third summit calls for greater African representation at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as stronger participation by the continent in the decisions of these institutions, according to TASS.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for increased African agricultural production to reduce food imports estimated at around $100 billion a year. He cited investment in irrigation, access to fertilisers, local processing, research and technology transfer as priorities.
The call came after several statements by Vladimir Putin at the summit, notably on African sovereignty, on 29 October, and on permanent African representation on the Security Council, also published on 29 October.
