Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Continues Africa Tour

    Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/AP [via Financial Times]

    The Facts

    • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Uganda on Mon. as part of the third stop of his Africa tour. He was due to hold talks with Ugandan Pres. Yoweri Museveni on Tues. before heading to Ethiopia.

    • Earlier, Lavrov visited the Republic of Congo on the second leg of his trip to strengthen Moscow's non-Western ties. He met with Pres. Denis Sassou Nguesso as part of the first-ever visit by a Russian or Soviet FM to the country.


    The Spin

    Establishment-critical narrative

    While the West likes to claim that not only Washington and its closest allies, but the whole so-called "international community" has isolated Russia over the Ukraine war, the neutral stance of the vast majority of African leaders is further proof that the world's stance is not so binary. The West doesn't understand that Africa is no longer willing to support its agenda and double standards, and Russia enjoys an excellent reputation across large parts of the continent.

    Pro-establishment narrative

    Indeed, it isn't all that accurate to speak of Russia's international isolation, and that is precisely why the West should focus on long-term strategies to detach Africa from Moscow's sphere of influence. In addition to sanctions against Russia, the West should simultaneously invest economically and politically in African countries, since this would not only strengthen the rules-based world order but also help to curb Russian and Chinese influence.


    Establishment split

    CRITICAL

    PRO

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