Kenya and Belarus presidents pledged to strengthen their relationship during talks held in Nairobi on Monday, according to the Kenyan presidency.
The development comes as Belarus, facing diplomatic isolation, aims to cultivate greater support among African nations.
The meeting followed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s recent visit to Equatorial Guinea as part of an African tour to bolster ties across the continent. Lukashenko was received at Nairobi’s State House, revealed Kenyan President William Ruto on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The two leaders “agreed to broaden our ties to renewable energy, trade, investment and education,” Ruto said.
“Immense opportunities exist between Kenya and Belarus that must be exploited for the prosperity of the two countries,” Ruto said, adding that the East African nation was keen on tapping Belarus’ technology in agriculture.
Belarus has faced international sanctions due to its unwavering support for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine conflict and its crackdown on internal dissent.
The nation heavily relies on Russia for political and financial assistance, serving as a launching point for Moscow’s assault on Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, both Kenya and Belarus did not reference Russia’s actions in their statements regarding the visit.
Amidst the conflict, both Moscow and Kyiv have sought support from African nations for their respective causes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov paid an unexpected visit to Kenya in May, following an African tour by his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
On Saturday, the Belarusian presidency said Lukashenko’s visit was aimed at “intensifying interaction in all areas of mutual benefit” and continuing to establish “close ties” between Minsk and African countries.
Widely labeled as “the last dictator of Europe,” Lukashenko visited Zimbabwe earlier this year in his inaugural trip to a sub-Saharan African nation.
During his visit to Equatorial Guinea, agreements were signed, including the launch of a regional center to promote Belarusian products in central and west African markets.
