Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began his African tour in Guinea on Monday, aiming to bolster Moscow’s influence on the continent.
Since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought to expand its presence in Africa. Lavrov’s visit was announced on Telegram, featuring a photo of his arrival at Conakry airport, marking his first visit to Guinea since 2013.
Lavrov was welcomed by Guinean Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouyate. He is scheduled to meet with Guinea’s leader, Mamady Doumbouya, who has been in power since a 2021 coup, according to Guinea’s foreign ministry.
Despite its rich mineral and natural resources, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world, having endured decades of dictatorial rule.
The state news agency Tass confirmed that Guinea is part of Lavrov’s African tour, but did not specify other destinations. However, Russian news agency afrinz.ru reported that Lavrov is expected to visit Chad on Wednesday with a significant delegation, and a possible trip to Burkina Faso was mentioned without a set date.
In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited African leaders to a summit in Saint Petersburg, where he emphasized promoting a multipolar world order and combating neo-colonialism. Putin praised the commitment of African states to creating a “just and democratic multipolar world order” during a statement following the summit.
