Head of the African Union Commission Declares that Russia occupies a special place in the heart of Africa – International Panorama
MOSCOW, November 16. / TASS /. Russia is a true friend of the states of the African continent, therefore Moscow has a special place in the hearts of the countries of the region. This was stated on Tuesday by the chairman of the International Community Commission Musa Faki Mahamat during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“For African countries, Russia is a true friend who has always accompanied and helped them in the fight against apartheid. Therefore, the Russian Federation has a special place in the heart of the African continent,” he said.
Faki Mahamat recalled that students from African countries are gaining the ruin of one education in Russian universities.
“In 1992, I myself was supposed to receive a scholarship and go to the Patrice Lumumba Institute (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) – TASS), but, unfortunately, fate decreed otherwise. As you understand, this connection, this training, which we received in the USSR, in the Russian Federation – this is what constitutes a solid basis for our relations, “he points out.
According to the head of the African Union Commission, today’s talks in Moscow are an excellent opportunity for deepening relations between Russia and Africa. “I would also like to thank the Russian Federation for its help in resolving many issues.
“Africa also faces numerous challenges. These are the problems associated with the pandemic, the problems associated with terrorism, terrorism. I think today there will be an opportunity to exchange views on all these issues,” concluded Faki Mahamat.
Assistance to countries in the region
The African Union is grateful to Russia for the support provided to the countries of the world in the context of the pandemic through the introduction of drugs and vaccines against the coronavirus.
“Now we are forced to fight the coronavirus pandemic. I am grateful to the Russian Federation for the support it provided us with medicines and vaccines, ”said Musa Faki Mahamat.
He noted that pharmaceutical installations are needed to create their own medicines on the African continent. “The African continent is home to about 1.6 billion people. Today, very few of these people have received the vaccine.
According to the head of the African Union Commission, the negotiations also discuss issues of partnership in the trade sphere. He recalled that a continental free trade zone has been created in the African Union. The priority for the continents is to make this continental free trade zone more efficient, as well as infrastructure directions – road, rail, port, airports, – he said.
“I believe that Russia, as a large industrialized country, can help with investments, which will undoubtedly give a serious impetus to the advancement, economic development of the African continent,” – the chairman.