MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Russia plans to establish embassies in seven African states in the next two years, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"Three new embassies have already been opened in Africa, and seven additional are to be established over the next two years. This work has been put on a structured basis, and it will continue steadily," he told the State Duma, lower house of parliament.
"We are establishing additional embassies. By 2026, it is expected to open embassies in Gambia, Liberia, the Comoros (Comoros Islands - TASS), in Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo, South Sudan. Seven embassies are quite a significant figure."
"They are meeting us halfway, but we are also seeking internal reserves to avoid relying too much on budgetary assistance," Lavrov clarified.
Lavrov explained that the ministry is redirecting its human resources to the most critical political areas. According to this principle, a department dealing with bilateral relations with African nations was created in the diplomatic department.
The minister also reminded that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created a second African department—the department for partnership with Africa.
The Department of the Middle East, North Africa and the former Department of Africa, which has now been renamed the Department of Sub-Saharan Africa, will continue to deal with bilateral relations with the states of the continent.
In 2023, Russian embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea began operating. Earlier, the government issued orders to reopen a Russian embassy in Niger, the Republic of Sierra Leone, and establish an embassy in South Sudan.
Lavrov pointed out that Russia's approved foreign policy is of a long-term strategic nature and is not subject to internal political fluctuations.
"[It] does not depend on the whims of our detractors, enjoys, as we have seen more than once, the broad support of our leading political forces," he added.