Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow will continue deepening ties with African nations but on equal terms, rejecting the old colonial model.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin stated:
“We do work and will continue to work with Africa, but not in the way that colonialists used to do – not at Africans’ expense, but to work together and develop together.”
He added that multiple areas of cooperation are on the table and will be discussed at the upcoming Russia-Africa summit.
The comments come as African nations increasingly seek to retain more value from their natural resources. Just days earlier, Burkina Faso under Captain Ibrahim Traoré opened the country’s first-ever gold refinery a $19 million facility with an initial capacity of 164 tonnes of gold, planned to expand to 515 tonnes.
Burkina Faso’s Mines Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba described the move as reclaiming control:
“This is the day we take back the keys to our own house… our gold will no longer be used to create added value for others while our people remain in need.”
The development is widely seen as part of a broader push by several Sahel states to end the long-standing pattern of exporting raw minerals while refining and profits remain overseas.
Putin’s remarks reinforce Russia’s current positioning in Africa as a partner focused on mutual development rather than extraction.
More details as the Russia-Africa summit approaches.