Russia has irreversibly enshrined the principle of participation limited to African countries recognized by the United Nations.
In fact, Russia has invited all the African states with which it has bilateral relations, and which are recognised by the UN, despite the pressure exerted by certain countries, abusing their friendship with Moscow to impose any participation by the “polisario” at this summit.
The Russian decision, adopted sovereignly for the second time in succession, is therefore not a position dictated in the urgency of the moment for the needs of the event in question.
It is now understood as an unambiguous principle of participation restricted to UN-recognised African states, backed by all the legal and diplomatic guarantees governing the organization of this summit and beyond.
This is borne out by all the documents adopted at the end of the summit, notably the four declarations and the action plan, which clearly and unequivocally enshrine the participation format.
Indeed, the introductory paragraph of all these official documents uses the following wording: “We, the Heads of State and Government of the Russian Federation and the African States recognized by the United Nations (hereinafter referred to as the Russian Federation and the African States) and representatives of the African Union and leading African integration organizations.”
This principle, solemnly enshrined in the official working documents of this major Russian-African meeting, clearly and definitively establishes that only the 54 member states of the African Union recognised by the UN are members of this summit.
Russia’s decision stands in stark and unequivocal contrast to the one adopted by the European Union, had, in violation of international law, invited the leader of the “polisario” to the EU-AU Summit held in Brussels in February 2022.
Moreover, the contested and questionable presence of the head of the “polisario” militia had undermined the seriousness of this famous meeting and caused embarrassment and disapproval in many of the countries present, outraged by the fact that the EU had tolerated the participation of this individual being prosecuted by several European courts for war crimes and human rights violations.
President Putin said after the summit took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere and produced tangible results. He said this also applied to the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, sessions of the summit and a special meeting with the heads of African regional organisations.
“We had many bilateral contacts with African leaders. We have planned meetings with all heads of state that are present in St Petersburg,” Putin said.
“Representatives of African states displayed political will and demonstrated their independence and interest in developing cooperation with our country. We appreciate this and are convinced in the successful future of Russia-Africa relations. They rest on the traditions of time-tested friendship, and historical experience of multifaceted productive interaction dating back to the early period in the process of African states’ formation,” he said.
“The main thing is that the summit has again confirmed the firm resolve of both Russia and Africa to continue developing mutually beneficial partnership and seeking its new forms and areas,” president Putin added.
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