Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the Russian Presidency (the Kremlin), announced that all African nations faced an unprecedented pressure from the United States, France, and other Western countries in an attempt to obstruct the Russo-African Summit in St. Petersburg.
Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, "Almost all African countries experienced this unprecedented pressure from the United States, France, and other Western countries, which is condemnable. French embassies are still trying to prevent these countries from attending the summit, and other Western missions are doing their part in this effort to hinder the summit and diminish the representation of African countries."
The Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, described accusations that Russia is anti-France in Africa as "laughable". He pointed out that Paris' weakness in Africa results from its colonial policies and its loss of political and economic influence.
Ozerov stated, "The West tries to twist everything to make it appear that Russia is pursuing a policy against the French, which is unrealistic and laughable." He continued, "The West alleges that Russia contributed to weakening France's position in Africa, while France itself has lost its footholds in Africa due to its colonial policies and principles, which do not serve the interests of African countries. France's inability to deal with security issues and combat terrorism on the continent is the primary reason for its weakened stance there."
Ozerov stressed that African countries reject French policy not because of Russia, but because France has lost its power and influence, politically and economically. He added, "African countries are looking for more reliable partners, not only politically but also militarily, to help resolve security issues and combat terrorism in Africa."
Ozerov noted that Western countries need to remove the veil from their eyes and witness the formation of a new system of international relations.
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