Summit showcases Russia’s growing Africa clout

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin opens Russia’s first ever summit with dozens of African leaders on Wednesday as Moscow seeks to vie for influence on the continent with the West and China.
The Russian leader called the two-day event “unprecedented” as the Black Sea resort of Sochi prepared to host over 3,000 business representatives and other delegates.
Putin contrasted Russia’s approach to cooperation with Africa to what he called the West’s desire to “pressure, frighten and blackmail” African leaders in order to “reap superprofits”.
Russia is “preparing and carrying out investment projects worth billions of dollars” in Africa, Putin said in an interview with TASS news agency.
For Putin, the summit is a chance to revive Soviet-era relationships and build new alliances, bolstering Russia’s economy following five years of Western sanctions.
He will also look to once again burnish his credentials as a top global player — the summit will take place after Putin discusses the Syrian crisis with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on Tuesday.