Russia-Africa : Second Summit Opens Today

It was a busy day yesterday 26 July, 2023 at Saint Petersburg as African leaders continued filing into the Russian city for the second Russia-Africa Summit. The event is coming four years after the first such gathering took place in the Russian town of Sochi from 23-24 October, 2019 with some 43 African Heads of State in attendance. As President Paul Biya joined his counterparts this year for a similar meeting, they will certainly be evaluating the road covered since the last summit and charting a new way forward.              
President Paul Biya who is accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya at the Summit is also taking along an impressive entourage of cabinet Ministers. They include the Ministers of the Economy, Trade, Finance and others, and their presence point to the focus that Cameroon will be giving to the discussions in Russia. With the official opening of the two-day summit today 27 July, 2023, several issues will attract participants. Besides looking at the promises of the last gathering, the eruption of a devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine on 24 February, 2022 with the attendant consequences on the global economy has not left anyone indifferent. In pursuant to the cherished principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, Cameroon through the Head of State, President Paul Biya will certainly make her position known on the need to see a speedy end to the crisis so that the suffering that such a war has caused to many should come to an end. The Cameroon leader has remained consistent that war can never be a solution to differences between opposing nations and peoples and such a stand will surely be re-echoed in St Petersburg.           
As for Russia that has been under sanctions from the Western powers, building strong ties with their African partners both at the bilateral and multilateral levels is certainly one way out of any tight corner. Most especially, the Russian leader Vladimir Putin will also be taking advantage of the presence of some over 40 African leaders attending the Summit to explain his country’s position and say how he hopes to work with Africa in tackling some urgent development issues.  
On the economic front, the Russian authorities have been realistic in observing that the level of business interactions with the African Continent has not been the best so far. Promises made to the 43 African Heads of State present in Russia in 2019 included an increase in trade to US$40 billion in five years. But instead, the figure stood at US$18 billion in 2022. It has remained largely in favour of...