Moscow's Victory Day: African Leaders Defy Western Boycott
Despite the Western countries' boycott, Moscow gathered representatives from as many as eight African countries for this year's Victory Day parade. The presence of leaders from countries such as Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Burkina Faso demonstrates Russia's growing influence on the African continent.
Although most Western countries decided to boycott the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia is not celebrating alone. The Kremlin succeeded in inviting several African leaders to participate in the ceremonies at Red Square, representing countries with which Russia maintains close political, military, or economic relations.
Among the guests was, notably, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the interim president of Burkina Faso and the leader of the local military junta. Russian mercenaries have been operating in this country for two years, and Moscow has officially announced strengthening its military involvement there. Recently, social media reported the arrival of approximately 1,270 Russian "instructors" to the capital, Ouagadougou.
The parade will also be attended by the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who wants to express gratitude to Russia for writing off nearly £21 million in debt. Meanwhile, the leader of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been sanctioned for human rights violations, is seeking political and economic support in Russia for his authority. In the past, he addressed Putin with the words: "as an elder brother, hold my hand as I try to develop Zimbabwe."
Equatorial Guinea, according to reports from opposition press and Western news agencies, was not only supposed to send troops to Ukraine but also employ Russian mercenaries in the country. These reports were officially denied by the authorities, but their credibility still raises questions.
Victory Day in Moscow
Among the leaders present in Moscow will also be the leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia, Congo, South Africa, and Zimbabwe – all countries that Russia actively seeks to involve in its international initiatives, such as BRICS. Egypt will be represented by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, according to sources close to the event organisers.
A total of about 29 foreign delegations will participate in the Russian celebrations on 9th May. In addition to African countries, representatives from China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Mongolia will also arrive in Moscow. Despite clear international tension, Putin still manages to gather allies – at least in some parts of the world.
