Four new diplomatic missions will bring Russia close to full diplomatic representation on the continent, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said

Moscow is close to completing its diplomatic network in Africa, with four new embassies set to open in the near future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Speaking at the 46th meeting of the Foreign Ministry's Council of the Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation on Wednesday, Lavrov indicated that only a few African countries don't have permanent Russian missions.

"Currently, there are 45 Russian embassies operating on the continent, and four more will open soon," he said. "There will literally be four or five countries where we have yet to establish full-fledged embassies and then we will completely cover the entire African continent with our diplomatic presence."

Russia expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa last year, reopening embassies in Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. In January, Lavrov said the total number of Russian missions on the continent would reach 49 once new embassies open in Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros.

The Russian foreign minister also pointed to growing regional engagement, noting that most Russian federal entities are already involved in cooperation with African partners. Lavrov stated that 81 Russian regions support cooperation with African countries.

He added that Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as several regions such as Astrakhan, Novosibirsk, and Leningrad, along with Krasnodar and Perm territories, are among the most active participants in this cooperation.

The minister further confirmed that preparations are underway for the third Russia-Africa Summit, expected to take place in Moscow at the end of October. Lavrov noted that a new cooperation roadmap through 2029 is likely to be approved at the event.

"We are very interested in your specific proposals, reflecting the interests and specifics of each federal subject, which could be included in the next Russia-Africa action plan for 2027-2029, which will be approved at the summit in October," he added.

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Anatoly Bashkin, director of the ministry's Africa Department, told RIA Novosti that the summit is scheduled for October 28-29.

(RT.com)