Russia continues to deepen its ties in Africa as it has forged a partnership with the Comoros to tackle conflicts on the continent and as, another island nation, Mauritius, is reportedly committed to deepening its ties with Moscow, despite pressure from the West.
The Comoros, a volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean, disclosed its shared interest with the Kremlin after the recent 33rd summit of the League of Arab States in Manama. According to a report by the Russian Sputnik media, Comoros and Russian leaders have stressed both countries’ priority on strengthening consultations and coordinating stances at the United Nations, particularly regarding conflict resolution and modern challenges in Africa. Bilateral ties between the two countries saw a significant uptick following last summer’s 2nd Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.
Meanwhile, another island country, Mauritius, is reportedly looking to join the list of African countries partnering with Russia. Speaking to the same Russian media last year, Mauritius’s ambassador to Russia, Heswar Janke, noted that in light of the rapidly changing global landscape, Russia has become an increasingly important “player” for the small island country, which reportedly includes a prospective use of the Russian Mir payment cards.
Amid Russia’s growing foothold in Africa, its Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, recently reiterated the importance of African partnership, stating that “in political terms, African countries are our allies on many items of the international agenda, including the defense of the principles of the UN Charter.”