Kuleba, who spoke to African journalists on a conference call on Wednesday, said his country will open 10 new embassies on the continent, starting with Rwanda and Mozambique. It will also seek to boost agricultural exports to the continent and strengthen military relations.
The comments by Kuleba, who has visited Africa this year and plans another trip “this summer,” come after his country and its allies expressed concern about the backing Russia has received from some African nations and the ambivalence of others toward Russia’s invasion of his country. South Africa insists it’s not taking sides in the conflict and has denied supplying weapons to Russia. The former Soviet Union supported many African nations in their fight for independence, still supplies many with arms, while mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group fight rebels on behalf of several African governments.