The choice to participate at the second Russia-Africa summit, which began in St. Petersburg, Thursday, is a decision that belongs exclusively to the authorities of each African country, Nabila Massrali, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said. “The EU respects the sovereign choices of the (African) partners,” she told a news conference in Brussels Thursday.
Massrali said that only 21 African heads of government and state would attend the summit, a drop from 43 at the first Africa-Russia summit in 2019.
She stressed that the EU is the biggest trading investment and security partner to Africa as well as its main donor.
“Facts and figures prove it, despite the massive ongoing disinformation campaign in Africa by Russia,” said Massrali.
“It is unlikely that Russia will provide African states with meaningful and substantial assistance on cooperation. The data is clear,” she added.
Source: Kuwait News Agency