Putin Hosts Guinea-Bissau Leader to Strengthen Russia-Africa Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló at the Kremlin, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to expanding its presence in Africa. The meeting, held as part of Embaló’s official visit to Russia, focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in trade, education, and defense. Putin highlighted that trade between Russia and Africa had increased by 10% in 2024, emphasizing that Russian companies are showing growing interest in the Guinea-Bissau market.

As part of strengthening ties, Moscow has expanded scholarship opportunities for Guinean students, particularly in military training programs. Putin underscored that relations between Russia and Guinea-Bissau have developed successfully over the past 52 years, built on mutual respect and trust. In response, President Embaló expressed gratitude for Russia’s support, emphasizing that his visit aimed to reinforce friendship between the two nations. He described the Russian people as “brothers” to Guinea-Bissau. The two leaders also discussed prospects for future cooperation in various sectors and exchanged views on regional and international issues. Their meeting followed a phone conversation in January, where they explored ways to enhance economic, trade, and humanitarian collaboration.

N.A