MOSCOW, November 25. /TASS/. African countries have grown weary of the pressure being put on them by Western countries for their cooperation with Russia, Ambassador-at-Large for the Russian Foreign Ministry Oleg Ozerov, head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, said in an interview with TASS.

According to Ozerov, since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, the West has dramatically increased pressure on African countries in an attempt to exert influence on the relationship between Moscow and the nations in that region. In connection with this, the diplomat recalled the US Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, which provides for slapping sanctions on Africans for any cooperation with Russia.

"Nevertheless, African countries, which are fed up with this pressure from their former metropolises and outright diktat - with whom they should cooperate and with whom they should not - have made their position on this document crystal clear," Ozerov stressed.

The ambassador pointed out that African countries officially refrain from joining in with anti-Russian sanctions and take a negative attitude towards any attempts by Washington and NATO allies to lure them into such actions.

"We are thankful to our African partners for their balanced position," the diplomat added.

"Russia and Africa have always been bound by strong ties of friendship and trust, which have successfully withstood the test of endurance over the past decades. Our country stands ready to continue its multifaceted partnership with Africa, including the expansion of political dialogue and the enhancement of economic and humanitarian cooperation," Ozerov concluded.