By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Russian and Guinean officials agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security and defense as Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov began his African tour in Guinea, authorities announced Monday.
Guinea’s president’s office announced this after talks between Lavrov and his Guinean counterpart Morissanda Kouyate in the capital Conakry.
The two countries agreed to “strengthen and diversify bilateral cooperation, in particular to revitalize a Russian-Guinean intergovernmental commission in various fields including mines, infrastructure, security and defense and education,” the president’s office said in a statement.
Lavrov, who also met with Guinea’s military leader, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, arrived in Conakry on Monday on the first leg of a three-country African tour aimed at boosting support for Moscow, which will also take him to Chad and Burkina Faso.
“We did not fail to discuss military and technical cooperation and strengthening Guinea's defense capacity, especially in view of the growing terrorist threat,” Lavrov told reporters before leaving Guinea.
The trip is viewed as part of Moscow’s efforts to bolster support from countries on the continent amid Western pressure following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Last July, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, where he highlighted his vision of ties with the continent.
Russia's major economic interests in Africa have centered on its arms, grains, extractives and nuclear power