Russians Disseminating Their Own Version of Russia-Ukraine Crisis Through Diplomatic Channels -By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Russian diplomats at the Foreign Ministry have been stepping efforts to get first-hand blistering information on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, its primary causes and current implications to African governments and the public. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation, after both the Federation Council and the State Duma approved the decisions to implement the decision that has sparked debates, and pushed for United States and Canada, European and many other external countries to impose sanctions against Russia.

Long before the special military operation started February 24 aimed at “demilitarization and denazification” in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, there have been varied information disseminated, both fabricated and the truth, by the global media. Western and European media have strong operational networks throughout Africa. Russian media is extremely weak on the African continent, and consequently local African media replicate information from western sources.

The African Union, Regional Economic Organizations and the African governments are still and distinctively, divided over the Russia-Ukraine crisis and now offers a complete geopolitical study. Russian Foreign Ministry’s special meetings with African diplomatic representatives was to use the diplomatic channels to send down the official situational truth about the Russia-Ukraine crisis through Moscow based diplomatic missions to various African governments.

According to the website reports, Russia and Africa have a close relationship and it becomes necessary to update with substantial information for geopolitical reasons. With the African diplomatic missions, the Russian Foreign Ministry has held two briefings, and one other special briefing with the Arab countries that included North Africa and Arab world.

Both briefings were held on March 10 and 22, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mikhail Bogdanov held a briefing for the heads of diplomatic missions of the Arab states accredited in Russian Federation.

It was fully devoted to the situation around Ukraine. The diplomats were informed the reasons, goals and objectives of the ongoing special military operation, including those to ensure the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, protect the long-suffering people of Donbass, and eliminate the threat to Russia’s national security emanating from Ukrainian territory.

There were also significant issues related to ensuring the security of the civilian population in Ukraine, the organization and operation of humanitarian corridors, and the provision of assistance to refugees. The Foreign Ministry further explained to the representatives of African embassies questions relating with requests for assistance in providing safe exit (evacuations), including their citizens, from crisis-ridden Ukraine.

During the meetings, questions from African diplomats about the activities of embassies in Moscow under the conditions of illegitimate sanctions imposed by Western, European and other countries on the Russian Federation were answered.

In addition to these special briefings, Deputy Minister Bogdanov held discussions with Ambassadors from Benin, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania.

On March 22, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Vershinin also held meetings with representatives of African states in the UN Security Council – Ambassador of the Gabonese Republic to the Russian Federation J.-R. Mamiaka, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Russian Federation L. Opoku-Ware and Ambassador Republic of Kenya in the Russian Federation B. Ogutu.

Topical issues of Russia’s interaction with the African “troika” in the UN Security Council were discussed, incl. the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, the state of affairs in Libya, Somalia, and the reform of the Security Council.

While briefing the African representatives, Minister Bogdanov indicated and reaffirmed the intention of the Russian Federation to further strengthen and develop traditionally friendly ties with African states was reaffirmed. For their part, the heads of diplomatic missions thanked the Russian side for the detailed coverage of events in Ukraine and the opportunity to exchange views on topical aspects of the Russia-African agenda.

Earlier on February 28, Bogdanov received Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Mzuvukile Jeff Maketuka, exchanged messages on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and South Africa.

During the conversation, both discussed issues of further development of traditionally friendly Russia-South African relations, with an emphasis on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic, scientific and humanitarian spheres. Moscow and Pretoria eternally hope to deepen political dialogue and maintain effective coordination of positions in the UN, BRICS, the G20 and other international platforms.

Prior to the February 24 crisis unfolded in Ukraine, Russia indicated strong preparedness and high interests to broaden cooperation in trade and in the economic sectors in Africa. With an invariable commitment to strengthen and develop relations in a positive and constructive manner, and especially in these challenging circumstances, Moscow is still planning for the second Russia-African summit.

The question of state support and business facilitation have been on the agenda these several years and was discussed during the panel session in Sochi. Now Russia plans to open trade missions in a number of African countries, and of course, looking forward to exploring several opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides a unique and valuable access to an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people.

In practical reality, it aims at creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business people and investments in Africa. That however, it has been loudly trumpeted that Russian business communities lack awareness regarding the current state of African market, along with trade and investment opportunities. There is an insufficient level of trust towards potential partners. It is necessary to establish an effective system of communication to guarantee reliability and integrity, sharing business information, between business associations in Russia and Africa.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparations for the Russia-Africa summit are in the active stage. The dates of the summit have not been determined yet. The first Russia-Africa summit took place in October 2019, and it was co-chaired by Russian and Egyptian Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The next summit is scheduled for autumn 2022.