Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived on Monday in Guinea, his ministry said, marking his first trip to the West African country since 2013.
Moscow, which has seen its relations with the West plummet since invading Ukraine in February 2022, has in recent years sought to boost its influence in Africa.
Russia's Foreign Ministry announced Monday's visit on Telegram with a photo of Lavrov at Conakry airport but did not provide further details on the trip.
The state-run TASS news agency reported that Guinea would be part of a larger tour of African countries but did not specify what other nations on the continent Lavrov plannet to visit.
Russian media outlets reported that the foreign minister may also travel to Chad and Burkina Faso during the tour.
In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited African leaders to a summit in St. Petersburg where he said they agreed to promote a multipolar world order and to fight neocolonialism.
Putin hailed the "commitment of all our states to the formation of a just and democratic multipolar world order" during a statement to the media following the summit.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
