Russia's ties with the continent base on Soviet-era solidarity, the Foreign Ministry official has said

African countries have demonstrated a clear understanding of the causes of the Ukrainian crisis and the role Western powers played in fueling it, Tatyana Dovgalenko, the head of the Department for Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has said.

In an interview with New Eastern Outlook published on Monday, Dovgalenko noted that many African governments have maintained an independent position, grounded in non-interference and national sovereignty, and have refused to adopt anti-Russian sanctions despite significant pressure from the West.

The stance taken is a "vivid demonstration" of Africa's refusal to capitulate to foreign influence. Instead, she said, many nations across the continent have opted for pragmatic, constructive relations with Moscow.

Russia's ties with Africa are not newly forged but rest on decades of friendship and cooperation dating back to Soviet support for liberation movements during the decolonization period, Dovgalenko emphasized. 

"There is a strong memory of the substantial and selfless contribution made by the USSR to the struggles of African peoples for freedom and independence, as well as Moscow's assistance in strengthening sovereignty, defense capacity, and in helping the young economies of the continent take shape," the Foreign Ministry official stated.

In contrast to what she described as a widespread European willingness to ignore the past, she argued that Africans are especially attuned to the dangers of foreign interference. African countries have long been subjected to unilateral sanctions and double standards, with some still enduring these measures today. "The continent knows firsthand what unilateral and illegitimate restrictions mean, and understands their selective, unfounded, and unjust nature," she pointed out.

According to Dovgalenko, Russia does not view Africa as an arena for geopolitical rivalry, but rather as a space for mutually beneficial cooperation. She said this approach sets Russia apart from other global players, because Moscow does not dictate who African nations should align with, nor does it pressure them into taking sides. "We respect their sovereignty and national interests not in words, but in deeds," she added.

Dovgalenko also pointed to tangible economic progress, stating that Russia has maintained its commitments to the continent despite Western restrictions. "In 2024, Russian agricultural exports to African countries rose by almost 20%, exceeding $7 billion and reaching 45 nations across the continent," the official highlighted.

In March, Dovgalenko told Jeune Afrique that Russia does not see Africa as a zone of rivalry with other global powers. She contrasted Moscow's approach with that of former colonizers, saying Russia has never exploited the continent or acted like a "predator."