MOSCOW, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and Togo will open embassies on each other’s soil next year, the two countries’ leaders said Wednesday, as Moscow expands its footprint in Africa amid waning Western influence.
Facing isolation in the West following its full-scale offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has tried to build new partnerships in Africa, where it has been growing its political, economic and military footprint in recent years.
Relations between Togo and Russia have grown closer recently, especially after the two nations signed a military cooperation agreement this year.
“This year, we have already marked 65 years of diplomatic relations. Strangely enough, throughout that time we have not opened embassies,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, who was visiting Moscow.
“However, we have finally agreed on this — next year, we will open embassies in both countries,” Putin added.
Gnassingbe thanked the Kremlin chief for maintaining scholarships for Togolese students, and said, “we hope that with the opening of the embassies, we will do better in this field,” referring to education.
A jihadist insurgency has spilt over into the small west African country from its Sahelian neighbours, with at least 60 civilians and soldiers killed in attacks so far this year.
Gnassingbe is also trying to act as a mediator of several crises on the continent, including the one between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
In August, Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation with the three Sahelian states of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The three countries are led by juntas that seized power in coups and have turned away from former colonial power France while moving closer to Russia, which sends mercenaries to help them fight a jihadist insurgency.
Russian state TV recently said Moscow’s troops were present in six African countries. — NNN-AGENCIES
