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https://taarifa.rw/kagame-presents-eac- ... to-russia/...President Paul Kagame also the Chairperson of the EAC represented the bloc at a round table with the Russian leader.
by Staff WriterOctober 23, 2019
President Vladimir Putin may soon travel to the East African Community bloc to officially break the ice on Russia’s return into the regions dynamics.
China, US, Japan the European Union, Qatar, Turkey, Israel and Iran including other powers have recently revived and strengthened their ties with the East African Economic bloc which currently has a stronger bargaining power.
On the sidelines of the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit, President Putin met leaders of Africa’s regional blocs including the EAC, ECOWAS (western Africa), SADAC (southern Africa) and the African Union.
President Paul Kagame also the Chairperson of the EAC represented the bloc at a round table with the Russian leader.
“In his capacity as the Chair of the East African Community, participated in a Working Lunch with Russian President Vladimir Putin together with other chairs of regional economic communities across Africa,” Rwanda Presidency said on Wednesday.
The East African economic bloc badly needs big money to finance its gigantic infrastructure projects including roads, railways, airports, seaports. The bloc also needs to solve its energy challenges all aimed at cutting the cost of production.
The region is Africa’s hot spot for insecurity and thus may require intervention from Russia through provision of high-tech munition, surveillance technology and communication. For example the DRCongo hosts major armed militia and terrorists that have for the past three decades shaken security to its knees.
It is pertinent that the East African Community seeks defence cooperation from a new friend in Russia to bolster its capabilities against terrorism, insurgency and other new threats.
Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Middle Eastern and African Countries Mikhail Bogdanov said, “Russia-Africa Summit is of crowning significance following a series of events dedicated to developing our relations.”