Moscow: Russia is ready to provide support for the Somali leadership in state-building, strengthening, unity of the country, steps to stabilise the internal situation and the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the offer after talks with his Somali counterpart Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow on Friday. He (Minister Sergey Lavrov ) said, “Russia is ready to supply Somalia’s army with military equipment in its war against terrorism.” 
Russia’s top diplomat said Moscow reaffirmed its readiness to meet the material needs of the Somalian army in its fight against extremists that remain on Somalian territory including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda.”
The offer further underscores Russia’s growing interest in the African continent upstaging the west in countries facing conflict.
Currently, Russian mercenaries Wagner are present in the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique and Libya.
Somalia has faced numerous attacks from al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate group, al-Shabab and recently the government embarked on what has been described as the most significant offensive against the al-Shabab extremist group in more than a decade.
The extremist group has held back the nation’s recovery from decades of conflict.
Earlier to this Somali Foreign Minister, Abshir Omar Jama, also said on Friday that he discussed a possibility of creating trade platforms too with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, at a meeting in Moscow.
Speaking at a news conference, Jama said the Russian establishment of such a platform would allow Russian and Somalia trade operators and businesses to interact more effectively and use existing opportunities more efficiently.
Lavrov, for his part, said Moscow expressed support for the Somali leadership in state-building, strengthening, unity of the country, steps to stabilise the internal situation and the fight against terrorism and extremism.
The Minister stressed that Russia is in favour of “African solution to African problems,” and for taking into account the interests of the African continent when addressing the issue of reforming the UN Security Council.
According to Lavrov, “the reform of the UN Security Council should be aimed exclusively at solving the problem of under-representation of developing countries, the countries of the world majority.”
Lavrov said he also discussed with Jama the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Russia’s game plan in Africa has involved seeking alliances with regimes or juntas shunned by the West or facing insurgencies and internal challenges to their rule.
The African leaders get recognition from the Kremlin and military muscle from Wagner. They pay for it by giving Russia prime access to their oil, gas, gold, diamonds and valuable minerals.
Russian influence in Africa was evidenced when the United Nations 17 of the 35 countries that abstained from a vote on a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine were African.
Somalia had voted in favor of Ukraine resolution but has been working on improving relations with Russia that were severed in 1978 when Moscow backed Ethiopia in a war with Somalia.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
