Russia

Lavrov Begins Africa Tour in Ethiopia

Is Russia exploiting Africa's resources for Moscow's gain or building a legitimate multipolar partnership?

JUL 7·Updated JUL 8

Story

Above: Sergei Lavrov and Gedion Timothewos attend a joint press conference in Moscow on Oct. 21, 2025. Image credit: Shamil Zhumantov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday for an official working visit, his first trip to Ethiopia since July 2022. He was received at Bole International Airport by Meles Alem, Director General for European and American Affairs at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
ENA English
Borkena Ethiopian News
Addis Standard on X
Lavrov met Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, with talks expected to cover plans for a nuclear power plant and expanding bilateral trade. The visit marked the first leg of a broader African tour, with subsequent destinations not publicly disclosed.
TASS
Anadolu Agency
RT India on X
Russia-Ethiopia trade rose 46% in 2024 and tripled year over year from January to August 2025, according to Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov. Ethiopian coffee imports to Russia grew 60% in 2024, while fertilizers became Russia's top export to Ethiopia in 2025.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TV BRICS
Lavrov earlier announced plans to open Russian embassies in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo and the Comoros, following missions launched in Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan in 2025. Moscow also created a new Africa partnership department to support its expanding presence on the continent.
Breakingthenews
Business Insider
Lavrov's Ethiopia trip comes as Moscow and Addis Ababa deepen cooperation on civilian nuclear energy, with Moscow reportedly supporting Addis Ababa's long-term plans through technical expertise, workforce training, regulatory development and future nuclear infrastructure projects.
ENA English
CNBC Africa
U.S. Africa Command Gen. Dagvin Anderson told lawmakers in May that a 75% reduction in U.S. regional posture over the past decade created an "intelligence black hole" across Africa. He said Russia has earned more than $2.5 billion from gold extraction in the Sahel and Central African Republic since 2022.
The Washington Examiner
FOX News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-Russia narrative

Russia's expanding engagement in Africa reflects a sovereign partnership built on mutual interests, not exploitation. As Western influence has receded, Moscow has expanded cooperation through diplomacy, trade, energy and security, giving African governments greater strategic choice and reinforcing a multipolar order in which states can pursue partnerships based on their own interests rather than Western political conditionality or geopolitical pressure from outside powers.

TASS

Business Insider

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Anti-Russia narrative

The Russian regime is running a predatory operation across Africa, looting natural resources to bankroll its war in Ukraine while exploiting vulnerable Africans through deceptive recruitment schemes. As Western engagement has receded, Moscow has expanded its influence through resource extraction, military partnerships and disinformation, allowing both Russian networks and jihadist groups to steadily deepen their foothold and erode regional stability across the continent.