Fatshimetry
The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso during the second leg of his African tour aroused particular interest. At the heart of the discussions was the political crisis in Libya. As chair of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya, Sassou-Nguesso seeks to organize an inter-Libyan summit to find lasting solutions to the crisis shaking that country.
During a press conference held in Oyo with his Russian counterpart, Jean-Claude Gakosso, the Congolese diplomat expressed Brazzaville’s position in the search for a negotiated end to the conflict in Ukraine. Gakosso stressed that sending ground troops would only aggravate the situation and jeopardize world peace. He also criticized the peace conference planned in Switzerland, to which Russia is not invited, highlighting its lack of relevance and its objective of maintaining an anti-Russian bloc.
The war in Ukraine, which began two years ago following Russian intervention, continues to rage. Ukraine has even decided to ban any negotiations with Vladimir Putin in 2022, thus reinforcing the tension between the two countries.
Despite these political differences, Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Brazzaville reaffirmed the mutual commitment to increase beneficial cooperation between Russia and Congo. Subsequently, Lavrov held talks with Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré in Ouagadougou.
This series of meetings raises complex questions about international diplomacy, regional conflicts and the quest for peace in regions plagued by instability. It is crucial that political actors commit to finding peaceful and lasting solutions to overcome the obstacles that hinder global stability and prosperity. Cooperation between nations, based on mutual respect and understanding of differences, remains essential to building a peaceful and prosperous future for all.