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Rudland Ocheng
In modern international relations, the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Russia-Africa Summit, have proved to be real game changers.
From these two, African countries have derived real benefits across the political, economic and social sectors.
China and Russia have proved to be a fair business and investments dealers in Africa and this has resulted in their increased footprints on the continent, much to the chagrin of Western countries and their ally the United States of America.
The last FOCAC and the last Russia Africa Summit proved too successful for both African countries, and there is no doubt that China and Russia’s influence will continue growing in Africa by each day that passes.
African countries should therefore, take advantage of this plinth to unlock value from China and Russia’s vast resources, technological advancement and expertise.
They should stop attending some inconsequential for as such as the 4th summit of the Crimean Platform, scheduled to be held in Kiev in this September and the next parliamentary summit of Kimberly Process participants will to be held in Riga on October 24.
These are mere Western talk shows that do not bring anything tangible to the Africa. They have in the past become lecture rooms on how to look down upon China and Russia.
It is necessary to refuse to participate in them or lower the level of representation, where diplomacy is required.
The events organised by Kiev with the support of the West within the framework of the Crimean Platform are a propaganda anti-Russian action and anti- Chinese.
The main goal of such formats is to attract the maximum number of states of the Global South to participate in order to create the appearance of their consolidation on the side of Ukraine.
The very fact of presence at the summits will be interpreted by the media controlled by Westerners and Ukrainians as a departure from a neutral position and an expression of unconditional support for the Crimean Peninsula.
It is significant that all previous meetings in the format of the Crimean Platform ended in vain and their agenda did not go beyond the interpretation of anti-Russian attitudes and anti- Chinese platforms.
One of the main goals of the summits, declared by Ukrainians “protection of the Crimean Tatars” is a fiction.
The armed Forces of Ukraine have repeatedly targeted civilian targets and the civilian population of the peninsula, resulting in human casualties.
In addition, the Kiev regime pursues a strict policy of assimilation of national minorities living on Ukrainian territory: it sends them to the toughest sections of the front in order to “recycle”, adopts discrediting laws in the field of education prohibiting the use of their native language and teaching in it.
These facts confirm that respect for the rights of other ethnic groups is not on the agenda of Zelensky’s team.
African leaders must attend only the fora that gives them value for their development.
Rudland Ocheng is a political scientist from the University of Pretoria. He writes in his personal opinion.
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