Malawi making new friends as Mutharika heads to Russia for summit

President Peter Mutharika believes Malawi should be expanding its diplomatic ties and warming up to new friends as he is expected to leave the country Monday for Russia to attend an economic cooperation meeting between Africa and Russia.

Mutharika: Russia here I come

Minister of foreign affairs Francis Kasaila said President Mutharika will be among Heads of States from 35 African countries that are expected for the first Africa-Russia Summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi next Wednesday and Thursday.

With the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to reassert  his country’s  influence on the  African continent and beyond.

For Putin, the summit is a chance to revive Soviet-era relationships and build new alliances, bolstering Moscow’s global clout in the face of confrontation with the West.

“Russia has always been present in Africa, this is a very important continent,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of the summit.

“Russia has things to offer in terms of mutually beneficial cooperation to African countries.”

Though never a colonial power in Africa, Moscow was a crucial player on the continent in the Soviet era, backing independence movements and training a generation of African leaders.

Malawian Foreign Affairs Minister said  the meeting  sets the grounds for the bilateral cooperation between African countries and Russia and that it will create opportunities for Malawi to engage Russian investors.

One of the main criticisms of Russian influence is that it uses secret military units to prop up dictators and strongmen with little or no accountability for human rights. These units are often mercenaries linked to the Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization closely aligned with the Kremlin.

It is up to African states to exploit the increased economic competition that Russia’s presence brings, while standing up for human rights and blocking potential abuses.

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MATILDA LOMBOLA
4 years ago

RUSSIANS ARE SERIOUS MINDED PEOPLE — NOT TOLERATING SHIT LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING THERE AT HOME —-AM HERE IN MOSCOW I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE —–

President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
4 years ago

What Russia knows is war, nothing good comes from Russia. Ask Mozambique and Angola.

Gregory Timbiri
Gregory Timbiri
4 years ago

Fact number one is: Russia has never built a school in Malawi and most african Nations except for military assistant and creating a BRICS bank to reap from poor nations without vision. A friend to all is a friend to none. These forums African leaders take is for a “FEEL GOOD EFFECT” and not to contribute to world economy. If Africa must grow she must concentrate with her household affairs before enganging her neighbours. Economy beggins with household affair not otherwise; there is no free money in the world-the future generation will have to pay the price.

MalemaJulius
MalemaJulius
4 years ago

Putins Russia cant offer anything tangible to Africa, the Russians are just seeking relevance, Putin is a mafia, the Mafia of St Petersburg they only thing he can tell these diplomatic tourists is how to squeeze the likes of Mtambo and Trapence coz in that department the know how to do it

mpilu
mpilu
4 years ago

ku malawi kuno kulibe policy ili yose. al8yese amangogona,kuganiza coyenera kucita mmawa. ndi mmene tikuonela izimu.
mawa pano apita ku mgwilizano ku mexico,brazil kuti abwere adzatengeko camba cili kunoci

Central
Central
4 years ago

Malawians, zooooona mpaka Russia? Why? and why now and not between 2014-2019? Where is the nation going?

Malawi Parliament, what is your role on Malawi foreign policy? As per the report it is true that Russian uses secret military units to prop up dictators and strongmen with little or no accountability for human rights. Do we want another genuine dictator? Dzikotu kusokonekela tikuonaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

USA, German and UK where are you? Why are you delaying to re-introduce what you did to Bingu? This APM guy is leading our beautiful country astray…………………………..!!

Hamlet
Hamlet
4 years ago
Reply to  Central

USA UK Germany all have embassies in Russia..Its actually a Russia Africa meeting with over 35 presidents attending. You comment with evil intentions because its Muthatika going.
Agalu a nyau munya chaka chino

You
You
4 years ago
Reply to  Central

I don’t think you know any world politics to comment on this.. Malawi is a sovereign state if you can understand.We don’t nned USA or any other country to dictate to us what to do..You are just a brainless Pig.

Mtete
Mtete
4 years ago

Real and True leaders, like Magufuli don’t waste time going to shopping sprees.They would.instead ask Russia to visit Tanzania. Koma anzanga ndi ine! Shaaah. Going at a lightning speed!!.
Let’s not hear about Chakwera, SKC and Mtambo frustrating development or the boring song “I won. Ask EU, USA bla, bla, bla.”

Eagles Eye
Eagles Eye
4 years ago

This job is for Chakwera to make when he becomes President in April, 2020. We dont want this tipped pumbwa to waste our time and resources

Mtete
Mtete
4 years ago

I only hope we are indeed seeking new friends, not new Blood Suckers like the Chinese. My prayer is that African Leaders must closely guard their natural resources; what these so-called new friends are after.

Ota benga
Ota benga
4 years ago

Good, Russia makes some pretty good missile for shooting mtambo. Please order some for our army… Also Russia doesn’t entertain a lot of stupid human rights ngos

Heaven Come
Heaven Come
4 years ago
Reply to  Ota benga

hahahahah. I like this one

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