Putin Holds Meetings With His African Counterparts

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Putin will hold bilateral talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Interim President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore, the Interim President of Mali Colonel Assimi Goita and the President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Sputnik is live from Saint Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with leaders of the African nations in the aftermath of the Russia-Africa Summit. Putin repeatedly stressed the role of African nations in the emerging multi-polar world order and observed that the African continent has become a new center of power in international relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the African peace mission will adopt a joint statement following their talks on Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"A brief joint statement is being prepared following the meeting. It will be released as soon as it is agreed," Peskov said.

The meeting kicked off at about 11:15 p.m. on Friday. Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered their addresses during the open part of the event. According to Peskov, the meeting ended at about 2:00 a.m.

The first talks in the series took place at the Constantine Palace outside St. Petersburg on June 17. Putin pointed out then that Moscow had never refused to hold talks with Kiev, while it was Ukraine that had dumped a draft agreement initialed in Istanbul in March 2022 into "the landfill of history.".

The African leaders spoke about the importance of cooperation in security, food security included, while Russia shared its plans to increase its democratic presence on the continent.

Here are the key events and statements of the Summit.

Moscow writes off debts

Russia will allocate more than $90 mln for lowering the debt burden of African countries, with their indebtedness written off by Moscow totaling $23 bln.

According to Russian Ambassador at Large, head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat Oleg Ozerov, African countries’ debt issues before Russia have currently been settled by 90%.

"There are some financial issues, but we are not talking about the direct debt. We are talking about certain financial agreements and obligations of sides," he noted.

The West seeks to maintain its "dominant position in Africa, prevents reforms and exerts pressure, using the financial debt, which destroys the economy and increases poverty," Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi said.

Colonialism heritage

Africa’s allies, including Russia, India and China could buy finished products from Africa instead of raw materials, resident of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said.

Using coffee as an example, Museveni pointed out that added value for finished goods is being produced beyond African territory.

"This is a problem that slowed down Africa’s growth," he stated.

Putin pointed out that some displays of colonialism have not been eliminated to this day and are "still being practice by metropoles - in particular, in economy, informational and humanitarian areas."

Cooperation on security

The summit participants agreed that a new permanent Russian-African security mechanism will be established. The new structure will work on combating terrorism and extremism, ensuring food security and non-deployment of weapons in space.

Noting that the development of the African Continent is being hampered by the spread of extremist ideology, trans-national crime and piracy, the Russian leader pointed out that Russia offers aid in countering all mentioned threats. In particular, Russia will continue training African servicemen and law enforcement officers in its education facilities. In addition, Moscow supplies a "wide array of weapons and vehicles" to African nations, including for free - "in order to reinforce security and sovereignty of these states."

Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera underscored that Russia’s support helped saving democracy in his country.

"Fearing no geopolitical problems, Russia provides aid to our country, our armed forces and security agencies in their fight against terrorist organizations," he said.

Mali was able to reinforce its armed forces and ensure its security thanks to Russia’s aid, said Interim President Assimi Goita.

"Mali has military partnership with Russia, and we thank it for support and friendship. […] The Malian Armed Forces Armed are currently on the offensive; we have significantly reduced the number of [terrorist] attacks on [our] military bases, we were able to ensure security in many places," he noted.

Search for peace in Ukraine

A number of African leaders advocated searching for ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that "negotiations and dialogue, as well as commitment to the UN Charter are necessary for a peaceful and fair resolution of conflicts."

"The African initiative deserves the greatest attention and it should not be underestimated," President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso said, calling to "end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

This conflict affected the entire world in a negative way, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said.

"Of course, we are concerned over the grain supply issue," he said, adding that it is "necessary to immediately and promptly resolve the problem of food shipments to countries in need."

Putin pointed out that Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness for negotiations, but Moscow cannot force them. He agreed that "all controversies must be resolve at a negotiation table," but added that "negotiations with Russia are being rejected.

"President Putin showed us that he was ready to engage in dialogue and search for a solution, and now we need to persuade the other party. I hope that we will succeed," Azali Assoumani, President of the Comoros, who also chairs the African Union, said.

Via diplomatic channels

"Russia’s attention to Africa keeps growing steadily," Putin stated. According to the president, Moscow will build up its diplomatic presence on the continent, by expanding its network of Russian centers of science and culture, and will help African states to open their embassies and consulates in Russia.

First and foremost, Moscow seeks to reopen embassies in those countries, where embassies were shut down in the 1990s, Ozerov said.

Russia will also work on cancelling visa regime with African states.

"The slogan of Russia’s return to Africa implies our physical, diplomatic, official presence. Therefore we will work on this issue," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS.

The agreements

Four declarations were adopted, including one on prevention of arms race in space, one on cooperation in informational security and one on strengthening of cooperation in combating terrorism, as well as the action plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership, which will implement the decisions of the summit. In addition, the Russian government signed memorandums of understanding with the African Development Organization and the Economic Community of Central African States.

The sides agreed on a number of new dialogue formats between summits, which will be held once in every three years. In particular, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chairman of the African Union plan to regularly hold political consultations.

A permanent mechanism is expected to be created at the highest level, which is supposed to help in coordinating combating terrorism and extremism, as well as in solving ecological problems. In addition, a Russia-Africa parliamentary forum will be held annually.

Jojo Ke Final - Dahaitsu Japan Open 2023

Tunggal putra Indonesia Jonatan Christie melakukan selebrasi usai melaju ke final turnamen Japan Open lewat pertarungan tiga set melawan tunggal India Lakshya Sen di semifinal, Sabtu, 29 Juli 2023.

Tunggal putra Indonesia, Jonatan 'Jojo' Christie ke final turnamen bulutangkis Daihatsu Japan Open 2023. Jojo hempaskan pebulutangkis India Lakshya Sen dengan 21-15, 13-21, 21-16 di babak semifinal

Jonatan yang merupakan unggulan lima dalam turnamen tersebut mengungkapkan, memakai pendekatan permainan yang lebih sabar dalam menghadapi serangan-serangan dari Sen.

“Puji Tuhan terima kasih hari ini saya bisa bermain cukup baik. Sen adalah pemain yang ulet dan tidak mudah dimatikan, pertahanannya bagus jadi pendekatan pertandingannya pun tadi berbeda dengan pertandingan-pertandingan kemarin,” kata Jonatan dikutip dari keterangan resmi PBSI.

“Tadi saya bermain lebih sabar. menunggu kesempatan baru menyerang. Bila saya terlalu mengobral serangan malah lebih enak ke dia,” ujarnya menambahkan.

Lebih lanjut, tunggal putra peringkat sembilan dunia tersebut mengatakan dirinya juga mencoba untuk fokus dan menenangkan pikiran serta tidak tergesa-gesa dalam merebut poin. Hal itu mengingat Sen merupakan pemain yang tangguh dalam memberikan serangan-serangan.

“Secara pikiran, saya juga terus mengatur fokus saya poin demi poin. Terutama saat di gim ketiga setelah interval dimana dia dapat satu poin, lalu saya juga dapat satu poin. Begitu terus bergantian, momentum itu yang terus saya pertahankan agar tidak menjadi berbalik,” kata Jonatan.

Ini merupakan final kedua Jonatan di Japan Open setelah tahun 2019. Ia akan menghadapi pemenang dari laga antara Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) dan Kodai Naraoka (Jepang). Jonatan mengatakan dirinya akan fokus untuk mempersiapkan diri lebih baik dari segi fisik dan mental.

“Saya senang pastinya (kembali masuk final Japan Open). Terlebih karena saya bisa mengambil poin lebih banyak di sini setelah beberapa turnamen tidak cukup bagus. Untuk final, belum berpikir ke sana,” ujar dia.

Sementara itu, Jonatan menjadi salah satu dari tiga wakil Indonesia yang sukses melaju ke babak semifinal turnamen berkategori BWF Super 500 itu. Dua pebulu tangkis Indonesia lainnya yang bermain ialah ganda putra Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto dan tunggal putri Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

Fajar/Rian telah tumbang di tangan wakil Taiwan Lee Yang/Wang Chi Lin dua gim langsung 19-21, 10-21. Sementara, Gregoria akan melawan tunggal putri China He Bing Jiao.

Hasil Semifinal Daihatsu Japan Open 2023

Niger Coup - What You Need To Know So Far

A delegation known as the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country delivered a statement on Nigerien state television shortly after detaining President Mohamed Bazoum. Credit Credit... ORTN via Associated Press

After a days of uncertainty in Niger, the commander of country’s presidential guard claimed the leadership of the West African country Friday in a televised address after ousting Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president.

Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who goes by the first name, Omar, said on state television Friday, “We have decided to intervene and seize our responsibilities” in asserting power over the country.

His address came after anti-coup demonstrators had clashed with security forces in Niamey, the capital, and the military putschists subsequently declared a nationwide curfew, announcing that they would also shutter the country’s borders.

Here’s what to know about the takeover

What happened in Niger? Members of the country’s Presidential Guard encircled the president’s palace in Niamey on Wednesday morning and held Mr. Bazoum hostage. For hours, an anxious country waited to see whether the crisis would be resolved quietly, with little clear information about either the rebels’ identities or whether the president was safe.

Hundreds of demonstrators against the coup briefly took to the streets of Niamey on Wednesday afternoon to demand Mr. Bazoum’s release before being violently dispersed by security forces.

Trying to help an injured person at a demonstration to protest the detention of Mr. Bazoum in Niamey, Niger, on Wednesday. Demonstrators fled the rally after warning shots were fired. Credit... Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

That night, the mutineers declared that they had “put an end to the regime.”

Col. Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for those who carried out the coup, read out a printed statement justifying their actions as a response to “the deteriorating security situation and bad social and economic governance.” Niger faces several Islamist insurgencies in its southern region, and people across the country have been feeling the strain from the rising cost of living.

Understand the Military Coup in Niger

A takeover. Military officers in the West African nation of Niger announced on July 26 that they had ousted the country’s president, throwing into uncertainty the future of one of the West’s few reliable partners in a region marred by coups and insecurity. Here is what to know:

How did the coup unfold? Members of the country’s presidential guard encircled the president’s palace in Niamey, Niger’s capital, and detained Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s president. A group of army officials representing different branches of the military later declared on national television that they had “put an end to the regime” of Bazoum and a general was announced as the head of the transitional leadership.

How have people in Niger reacted? Hundreds briefly demonstrated in the streets of Niamey to demand Bazoum’s release before being violently dispersed by security forces. The Nigerien government called on the public to reject the takeover, but the military officers who appeared on television said that it was necessary to avoid strife between branches of the country’s security forces.

What could the events mean for Niger? A successful coup could further destabilize a poor country and nascent democracy. Bazoum became president in 2021, taking the reins in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transition since it gained independence from France in 1960 and ending a period during which it experienced four military coups. The events could also affect dynamics in a region plagued by violent militants, poverty and coups.

Colonel Abdramane was flanked by the deputy military chief of staff and senior members of the National Guard and Presidential Guard. And on Thursday, the country’s military appeared to formally back the takeover, saying that it was necessary to avoid strife between branches of the country’s security forces .

What could the events mean for the region? The developments could deal a fatal blow to Niger’s nascent democracy.

The country has been subjected to four military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960. Mr. Bazoum, president since 2021, had taken the reins in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transition since independence — though elements in the military also attempted an unsuccessful takeover just two days before his swearing-in.

Mr. Bazoum had recently begun making changes in the ranks, pushing out the army chief of staff and forcing some other top generals into retirement, moves that may have antagonized the military, said Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, an expert in the stretch of Africa known as the Sahel, which includes Niger, for the International Crisis Group.

But the military was also exploiting growing Nigerien public “disenchantment” with the country’s democratic experiment, Mr. Ibrahim said. Mr. Bazoum “had achievements, but when you compare the achievements to people’s expectations, they were much higher,” he added.

Mr. Bazoum became president in 2021. Credit... Pool photo by Yves Herman

The events could also affect dynamics in the region, which has been marred by insurgencies, aging dictators and military coups.

Niger’s U.S.-backed government has been a critical ally for Western countries seeking to quash Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel. Over 1,100 American troops are based in Niger.

Mr. Bazoum’s alignment with France had drawn the ire of some in the military who opposed the presence of Western forces in the country, Mr. Ibrahim said.

At least three other countries in West Africa — Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali — have had military coups since 2020. Western observers fear that a military junta in Niger could mimic events in neighboring Mali, whose putschists eventually expelled a United Nations peacekeeping force, while building close ties with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries.

Prince Faisal renews Saudi rejection of Qur’an burnings in call with Swedish FM

Pangeran Faisal bin Farhan mengatakan insiden berulang di mana kitab suci umat Islam dibakar berkontribusi pada "memicu kebencian dan membatasi upaya dialog antar manusia." (Reuters/File Foto)

The Saudi foreign minister spoke with his Swedish counterpart over the phone on Friday during which he renewed the Kingdom’s “total rejection” of all attempts to offend the Holy Qur’an, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan said repeated incidents in which the Muslim holy book had been burnt contributed to “fueling hatred and limiting efforts for dialogue between peoples,” while calling on Sweden to take measures to stop extremist acts.

Sweden’s Tobias Billstrom condemned and denounced attempts to burn copies of the Qur’an, stressing that his country would seek to stop all acts that offend religions and their sacred books.

He expressed his “deep regret” over what he called “open exploitation” of the Swedish constitution regarding freedom of opinion and expression, SPA added.

In recent weeks, extremists have burnt copies of the Qur’an outside embassies of predominantly Muslim countries and mosques in Sweden and Denmark.

Last Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing its strong condemnation towards the recent actions by hate groups

Putin - Ball Now on Ukraine’s Side With Regard to Talks

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Ukraine abandoned the agreements reached after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kiev area and Moscow does not understand why Western countries are dragging Ukraine into NATO, creating a security threat, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Not everyone knows this, but we know it well, that Kiev received its sovereignty and independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union on the basis of a declaration of independence, and in this declaration it was written in black and white that Ukraine is a neutral state. And for us, it is of fundamental importance," Putin said at a Friday meeting in St. Petersburg with the heads of African delegations.

"Why the West began to draw Ukraine into NATO is not very clear to us."

The Russian leader added that Moscow has repeatedly publicly voiced its readiness for talks with Kiev.

"But after the withdrawal of our troops from near Kiev - and we were asked to do this in order to create conditions for the conclusion of a final agreement - the Kiev authorities abandoned all previous agreements," Putin said, adding that now, "the ball is completely on their side." He further underscored that despite the West's failure to comply with the UN Charter, Russia is in fact ready to seek a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine Conflict.

"They do not care for the UN Charter, they refer to the international law only when they believe that these tools can be used against someone, in this case against Russia. They will not succeed, it is too primitive," he stated.

"If they really want someone to comply with the UN Charter and other documents of international law, they have to comply with the same norms themselves. But this, nevertheless, does not mean that we do not want and do not seek a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

Doubling down, Putin noted that Russia has not in any regards violated the UN Charter and acts in full accordance with it, adding that its principles should be respected by all. "There should not be any double standards, unilateral sanctions and attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of others," he said.

Moscow Values African Countries’ Approach in Finding Ukraine Solution

The Russian president went on to state during the Friday meeting that Russia has carefully analyzed the thoughts and considerations of African countries on Ukraine, and appreciates their determination to find a just and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis.

During the meeting dedicated to the topic of Ukraine, the Russian leader expressed the hope that African colleagues understand the nature and origins of the Ukraine crisis.

"We tried to convey our vision of this problem. We believe that the problem did not arise yesterday, and was provoked by some forces in the West, who had been preparing for a hybrid war with our country for many years, doing everything to turn Ukraine into a tool to undermine the foundations of Russia's security, to damage Russian positions in the world, and to undermine our statehood," Putin said.

The Russian president emphasized that it was the coup in Ukraine in 2014, which Western countries actively supported, that led to the current crisis.

Putin also thanked African leaders for their approach in seeking a just and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis.

"I know that you are sincerely striving to render possible assistance in achieving a just and sustainable solution to the conflict, and we, of course, greatly appreciate your balanced approach, as well as the fact that you did not support and do not support the anti-Russian rhetoric, anti-Russian campaign," Putin said.

Putin's comments came amid the Russia-Africa Summit 2023 and Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which was held July 27-28. The event has called on delegates from nearly 50 African nations to discuss all matters food security and bolstering ties between Russian and African states.

Golkar Gabung PDIP Ibarat Koalisi dengan Dua Rasa

Kunjungan Ketua DPP PDI Perjuangan, Puan Maharani ke kediaman Ketua Umum Partai Golkar, Airlangga Haratarto, dinilai sebagai desakan bergabung dalam barisan koalisi.

Pengamat politik Citra Institute, Efriza mengamati, Puan menemui Airlangga sebagai representasi rezim.

"Ini menunjukkan Golkar memang diharapkan, karena itulah rezim ini mendesak dengan berbagai jebakan," ujar Efriza, yang dilansir Rmol.id, pada hari Jumat, 28/07/2023.

Dia mengurai, rezim menekan Golkar melalui isu penggulingan Airlangga sebagai Ketum, sehingga wacana yang berkembang adalah Munaslub.

Di samping itu, dosen ilmu pemerintahan Universitas Sutomo itu juga memaknai pemanggilan Airlangga oleh Kejaksaan Agung adalah bentuk penekanan, tepatnya menggunakan instrumen hukum yang dipolitisasi.

"Ini agar Airlangga menyadari dengan posisi yang kian merepotkan dan terjepit, akhirnya pilihan kepada PDIP adalah hal terbaik," tuturnya.

Maka dari itu, Efriza meyakini koalisi yang terbentuk nanti tidak akan harmonis, apabila Golkar benar-benar berlabuh dalam koalisi PDIP.

"Golkar dan PDIP bersatu ibarat berkoalisi dalam dua rasa. Karena di satu sisi PDIP merindukan dan membutuhkan Golkar," urainya.

"Tapi di sisi lain Golkar kesal, jengkel, dan benci dengan perjodohan koalisi paksaan ini," demikian Efriza menambahkan.