Russia’s Lavrov Engages Nairobi with Strategic Offerings for Kenya’s Development
Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed Nairobi’s audience on Moscow’s war in Ukraine, after presenting Kenya with the necessary supplies.
Mr. Lavrov met with Kenyan leaders, including President William Ruto, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, during his one-day official trip.
After the meeting, President Ruto stated that Kenya will work to strengthen ties with Moscow. According to a message from the White House, the two nations will sign a trade agreement by the end of the year to “give business the necessary impetus.”
Lavrov, who had not received an audience in Nairobi during his previous three trips to Africa, was discussing the war in Ukraine as well as what Moscow believes Kenya needs: food and a method of payment.
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Lavrov told Russian media in a Telegram-streamed press conference, “We provided a detailed assessment of the situation in Ukraine and the reasons why Russia is defending itself against an attack on the Russian language and culture, as well as attempts to destroy everything Russian.” He spoke about agriculture, telecommunications, trade, and the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit.
The target audience for Lavrov’s press conference was his home country. He addressed Russian media in Russian. However, the visiting Russian diplomat was referring to Africa’s ongoing food security issue. According to him, Moscow was sending 34,000 metric tons of fertilizer to Kenya as part of a donation to the world’s poor.
Then, he asserted that the grain shortage is a “geopolitically induced” issue. In Nairobi, he advocated for a special arrangement in which countries settle each other’s payments in local currencies, a proposal first advanced by the BRICS group of emerging nations including India, China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
“The dollar’s share is decreasing. This (alternative payment system is a currently utilized method. It is beginning to pick up speed. This will have a positive impact on the global economy,” Lavrov said, referring to the currency discussions and Kenya’s opinion.
“Unfortunately, Kenya’s commodity trade has not yet reached its full potential. This, however, is the future of global trade as it grows and transitions to settlements in national currencies.”
“We must protect ourselves from the negative effects of Western-created mechanisms. We must construct supply chains independent of Western blackmail.” Russia, which has been sanctioned by the West since last year, is spearheading the development of a new currency to be used for cross-border trade by the BRICS nations, but which, according to Russia, will be open to other nations as well.
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The potential currency could provide economic independence while competing with the current international financial system, which is dominated by the U.S. dollar and accounts for approximately 90 percent of currency trading. In addition, the dollar accounts for nearly all oil transactions.
Some countries, such as Kenya and Tanzania, have recently initiated bilateral discussions with importers to settle payments in local currencies. India has since accepted certain payments in this format from Dar and Nairobi.
However, Kenya’s most urgent need is food. Lavrov argued that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine did not cause the continent’s food shortages, with some regions reporting famine. Instead, he blamed the West for imposing sanctions on Russia and then diverting grain sold through a special window to less-needy regions than Africa.
Honest discussion
Maria Zhakarova, Lavrov’s spokesperson, said at a press briefing on Monday, “We are open for a sincere and honest discussion with every country, especially with our African friends, about the real causes of the threat of famine in Africa and those who created it.” “We can explain what obstacles we must overcome to ensure unqualified fulfillment of our international commitments to provide food, fertilizer, and other strategic goods to countries with the greatest need,” she said.
The government of President William Ruto required fertilizer the most.
In response to rising food prices and expensive imports, President Ruto has sought out cheaper fertilizer and seed. It has meant that he communicates with both Russia and its enemies in the West. Ruto reversed a decades-long ban on genetically modified maize in Kenya last year.
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Afterward, he authorized importation. However, Nairobi was critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, and its envoy to the United Nations, Dr. Martin Kimani, had given a speech in February 2014 condemning the invasion as one that could strengthen the dying empires of the world.
Nairobi has since adopted the African Union’s call for dialogue. Lavrov stated in Nairobi that despite agreeing to a special export window for grain, Russia has been unable to deliver grain to Kenya and other poor countries.
Russia and Ukraine are the two largest producers of wheat in the world. When the war began, the West sanctioned Russia and blocked transactions, including payment settlements.
The Black Sea Initiative was reached with the support of the United Nations and Turkey, allowing Russia-blocked grain from Ukraine and fertilizer from Moscow to be transported to combat hunger.
Yet, according to Lavrov, only about 3% of the 30 million tons sent through the arrangement have been sent to Africa. “Today, Russian representatives at the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul are fighting to include Africa-bound bulk carriers in the Black Sea Initiative,” stated Ms. Zhakarova.
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“To maximize profits, Ukrainian officials insist on prioritizing the registration of the largest vessels. They have no interest in assisting Africans who are starving.” Lavrov also discussed reforms to the United Nations Security Council.
The 15-member body whose decisions are binding on all UN member states does not include any African representatives with veto power.
He argued that the problem with the UN Security Council is the overrepresentation of Western states.
The United States and its allies represent six of the 15 current members of the organization. Accepting representatives from Africa, Latin America, and Asia is the only way to ensure adequate representation in this key United Nations Organisation authority.
Russia’s Lavrov Engages Nairobi with Strategic Offerings for Kenya’s Development
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