Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, is on a tour of a number of African countries, to shore up support for Moscow. The war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage.
Speaking in Cairo, Egypt, to a number of ambassadors from Arab League nations, Lavrov dismissed claims that Russia was to blame for the global food crisis.
Lavrov will also be visiting Uganda, the Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia.
A group of Russian companies recently completed a visit to South Africa to ‘find the best opportunities for co-operation and implementation of South African projects in various fields.’
A key deal signed recently, which could see Ukrainian grain exports resume, hangs in the balance after Russia attacked the port of Odesa.