Russia draws in Africa with charm offensive against Western ‘neo-colonialism’

There is but one step between Vladimir Putin’s office and the Duma in central Moscow. It was at the Russian parliament’s headquarters, just a few metres from the Kremlin, that the conference “Russia-Africa in a multipolar world” was held from 19-20 March, the second of its kind devoted to strengthening cooperation between African and Russian parliamentarians. 

The meeting came ahead of the next Africa-Russia summit, to be held in St. Petersburg at the end…