‘In us you have a friend’
Russian President Vladimir Putin explains his country’s relationship with Africa
THIS is part 2 of a Question and Answer interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his country’s investment in Africa.
The Russian-African Summit will be held today and tomorrow in Sochi in the Russian Federation.
Question: The Soviet model of co-operation with African countries often involved the lending mechanism. Did this policy prove effective? Does Russia plan to resume the practice of providing loans to African countries? What other mechanisms for offering support to African countries are you prepared to discuss?
Vladimir Putin: Indeed, the Soviet-era model – with its pros and cons – proved quite effective at the stage of the development of statehood in African countries.
We still continue rendering financial assistance to African states. While in the past these decisions were primarily politically motivated, now they are part of the humanitarian assistance.
As far as granting loans is concerned, today these loans are market-oriented. For example, a decision was made to grant a loan to Egypt in the amount of $25 billion (R367 billion) for the construction of four power units for El Dabaa NPP. This is specifically market-oriented lending.
Let me point out that in the post-Soviet period, at the end of the 20th century, Russia cancelled $20bn of African countries’ debts to the Soviet Union. This was both an act of generosity and a pragmatic step, because many of the African states were unable to service those debts.
We therefore decided that it would be best for everyone just to start our co-operation from scratch.
There are other schemes that are currently applied to some of the remaining debts. For instance, intergovernmental agreements with Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania are being implemented in the framework of the debt-for-development swop programme.
We expect that Ethiopia’s remaining debt to Russia, ($163.6m) will be settled under similar conditions. The relevant draft agreement is currently being elaborated.
Let me also remind you that Russia makes contributions to international programmes of assistance to Africa in the framework of the UN Development Programme, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Civil Defence Organisation.
Sometimes, in-kind support is provided. Since 2011, WFP offices in Africa have received 258 Kamaz trucks. Another batch of 75 trucks has been shipped most recently.
At the same time, the use of new financial mechanisms does not rule out the practice of granting loans, but rather provides for a wider and more diversified toolkit in support of development. It contributes to establishing mutually beneficial co-operation between Russia and African countries. All these issues will be examined at the Economic Forum on October 23-24.
We are ready to hear proposals from our African partners and share our considerations.
Question: Earlier, military technical co-operation was among the areas of interaction between Moscow and African countries. Are there any plans to enhance it? Are you going to discuss any specific projects or contracts with the summit participants?
Vladimir Putin: Indeed, the traditions of our military technical co-operation are deeply rooted. It was developed back at a nascent stage of establishment of African states and played its role in the fight by peoples of the continent for their independence. And our African partners highly appreciate it.
Today, we have agreements on military technical co-operation with more than 30 African countries which we supply with a wide range of military equipment. Of course, part of it is being transferred at no charge. But this is common practice followed by all leading world countries. It is encouraging that military technical partnership continues to evolve vigorously.
What’s more, African countries often initiate such co-operation themselves, because they understand that one should be able to protect its independence and sovereignty, including from extremist and terrorist groups.
It is yet another incentive to co-operate with Russia, which has abundant experience in fighting terrorism, including in Syria.
Our African partners actively participate in military-technical forums and military exercises organised by Russia, in the framework of which they get acquainted with Russian advanced weapons, military hardware and experience of its use. For our part, we will further contribute to training military personnel of African states and take part in training African peacekeepers.
Question: Social and humanitarian co-operation is declared as a theme of the summit. Why does Russia help Africa if far from all its own social problems are resolved?
Vladimir Putin: Humanitarian assistance is being provided to Africa by many world countries, yet none of them – be it the US, France, China or any other country – has fully resolved all of its social problems, including in health care, education and culture.
Russia, too, provides humanitarian assistance to African states, but not by reducing the amount of funding for its own programmes. After all, good traditions of charity and support in times of need are a hallmark of our people.
I will give a recent example. Russia, as many other states, provided aid to the African countries affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai in April 2019.
Russia sent humanitarian supplies to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, i.e. large tents, blankets and food products weighing about 30 tons for each country.
We continue to take an active part in efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to Africa. Russia is involved in the UN World Food Programme’s school meals project valued at $40m, which has been implemented in Mozambique since October 2017, and in the project to introduce modern technology and equipment for disinfection worth up to $15m in Madagascar.
We also provide assistance to our African friends in health-care development, as dangerous communicable diseases respect no borders.
Russia was among the first to react to the Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak, having allocated $60m to combat it. There is now a microbiology and epidemiology research centre in Guinea. Russia contributed $20m to the World Bank programme to implement the global malaria control initiative. And such examples are plentiful.
I would like to emphasise that Russia’s participation in fighting poverty, dangerous illnesses and other global threats, as well as reduction of potential risks “at distant approaches” is fully in line with our national interests.
Question: Security issues are particularly acute in some African countries. This affects the operation of Russian companies there. Are you going to raise issues of security at the Summit and propose measures to strengthen it? What help is Russia ready to provide to settle conflicts across the continent?
Vladimir Putin: An important element of Russia’s interaction with African countries is regional security co-operation. Our Summit’s slogan – For Peace, Security and Development – is not accidental. Steady progress is not possible without resolving these problems.
The situation in many parts of Africa is unstable: inter-ethnic conflicts and acute political and socio-economic crises remain unsettled.
Numerous terrorist organisations, such as ISIL, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, are highly active in North Africa, the Sahara-Sahel region, Lake Chad area and the Horn of Africa. Armed forces and law enforcement bodies of African countries cannot oppose militants alone, and need significant aid.
We will further increase contacts between special services and law enforcement agencies of Russia and African countries in the field of countering terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, money-laundering, illegal migration and piracy.
In demand is the practice of training military and law enforcement personnel of African countries, including at a reduced cost and free of charge. For example in the past five years alone, more than 2 500 service personnel from African countries completed studies at the military educational institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry.
Our African partners take an active part in Russia-organised events, such as the International Military-Technical Forum and meetings of high representatives for security issues. Eleven African countries participated in the 2019 International Army Games. And the number of those willing to join them is growing.
Ultimately, all those programmes have the same goal – to help Africans solve existing security issues themselves, as it will strengthen African states, their sovereignty and independence. And hence, the world will be more stable and more predictable.
We are ready to hear proposals from our African partners Vladimir Putin RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT