This issue was the focus of the “Safe Africa” discussion, which was discussed by the participants of the second “Russia-Africa” summit in St. Petersburg.
Photo: REUTERS
Africa continues to be one of the regions of the world where the security issue is most serious. Practice has shown that global stability cannot be achieved within the framework of a single state: it is a matter of interaction and support of all members of the international community. This topic was the central topic of the Safe Africa discussion, which was discussed by the participants of the second Russia-Africa summit, which took place in St. Petersburg.
As the Director of Research, Development and Support Fund of the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, Fyodor Lukyanov, noted that what used to be strictly focused on security issues, as it was mainly associated with with military risks, now connected with economic, social, technological, cultural issues.
– Without the physical safety of a person, no state is stable, – emphasized the moderator of the discussion.
EXPORTER SECURITY
Security is paramount, only on the condition that security-related issues are resolved, you can take on the rest, such a thesis was put forward by the deputy chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev.
– Guaranteeing security in isolation from geopolitics is impossible. Russia is taking a leading position as a security exporter for African countries, the senator emphasized.
As one of the global threats of our time on the African continent, according to Kosachev, is the neocolonial policy of the West. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure legal and biological security.
– As for biological safety, we are talking about American biological laboratories operating all over the world. They are in Guinea, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria. I am sure that they are not under the control of 100% of the local authorities.
The United States’ motivation in creating laboratories is to ensure its own national security by conducting research outside the country and to ensure the safety of its military personnel in the event of hostilities, Kosachev noted.
A WINDOW FOR TERROR
Burkina Faso’s Defense Minister, Kassoum Coulibaly, pointed out that Africa, and Burkina Faso in particular, faces security problems of all kinds: food, humanitarian, physical.
He stressed that other countries should not impose their own type of security on others, while presenting their own conditions and requirements. Some Western countries, according to the minister, are blocking the purchase of weapons, despite the fact that the authorities are willing to pay.
– The West African Community has developed a regional plan to combat terrorism. Its implementation requires $2,250 million. However, there is no one who is willing to become our partner in this matter,” Coulibaly said, adding that the main threat comes from Libya.
The Ambassador General of the Russian Foreign Ministry Oleg Ozerov confirmed that the destroyed Libya became a window through which terrorist groups, Al-Qaeda, ISIS (banned in the Russian Federation – ed.) and others They flowed to Africa. They seize resources, undermining the security and sovereignty of the countries of the Sahara-Sahel region.
– It is impossible to solve this problem in the national framework and in the transnational framework – when the Five of the Sahel offered France their strategy to combat terrorism, in response, Paris presented its own conditions to guarantee security – recalled the ambassador. We have never shared this approach. Now we provide assistance in the fight against terrorism, without interfering in internal affairs, without naming political and economic conditions.
THREATENED
Al-Qaeda’s first appearance in Africa was in 1998, when it staged a terrorist attack on the US embassy in Nairobi. More than 4,000 people were injured then, recalled Jean-Dominique Okemba, secretary general of Congo’s National Security Council.
Now there are many terrorist groups operating on the continent.
“They have a lot of influence, they create big problems for structural security, they affect maritime borders,” Okemba added, noting that the main threats are the illegal arms trade and drug trafficking.
The list of threats was expanded by the executive director of Competences Group (Ivory Coast), Stefan Konan. Regime change, civil wars, terrorism and wars between African states, migration, maritime piracy and cybercrime. In six years, Africa has spent $46 billion defending itself.
Another country that poses a threat to the African continent due to its geographical position is Sudan. This was recalled by Muawiyah Abdelmjid Elfaki Adam, Counselor of the Embassy of Sudan in the Russian Federation.
PREVIOUS IMPACT
Russia has accumulated vast experience in the field of security and can provide support to African states, said Andrei Kryukov, head of Rostec’s long-term planning and analysis department.
– The forms of terrorism are changing, terrorists have become more technically, ideologically and informationally trained. They are equipped with modern weapons, drones, they use the Internet for indoctrination,” Kryukov recalled.
In recent years, 5 African states have entered the top 10 mortality rankings. 51% of those killed by terrorists are Africans. The most common targets for terrorists are government and religious leaders, as well as opinion leaders and law enforcement officials.
According to Kryukov, Russia is ready to provide modern weapons: small arms, armored vehicles, inspection equipment and security equipment in megacities.
Russia can also share its experience in combating cyber threats. Andrey Masalovich, CEO of Inrus, announced this.
“We went from monitoring events to their early warning, identifying events at an early stage,” Masalovich said, adding that work is underway to predict threats and neutralize them in the bud. – We have proven solutions in Asian countries, Latin American countries. Now we have the first experience of cooperation with African countries.
