Kenya, Russia to boost trade ties as Russia-Ukraine rivalry heats up in Africa

Kenya will sign a trade pact with Russia aimed at boosting cooperation between businesses, President William Ruto’s office announced on Monday following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as Moscow and Kyiv both seek to bolster support from African nations over their war.

Lavrov’s surprise trip to the East African powerhouse comes only days after a visit to the continent by his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. “During our visit we will discuss our cooperation in the trade, investment and economic spheres, humanitarian and cultural questions, education, cooperation in the UN and many other issues,” Lavrov reportedly told Kenyan lawmakers.

Ruto’s office said in a statement that Kenya plans to ink trade pact with Russia to give business the “necessary impetus” to bilateral trade with Russia that was still low despite the potential. However, it did not reveal when the pact might be sealed or give details on what it might encompass. Russia sells mostly grain and fertilizers to Kenya.

Yet, the latest statement from Kenya’s presidency emphasized the East African country’s support for safeguarding each nation’s territorial integrity, adding that “Kenya calls for a resolution of the conflict in a manner respectful to the two parties.”

Russia’s top diplomat has visited Africa several times over the past year, as global powers tussle for influence on the continent of 1.3 billion people. His Ukrainian counterpart last week called for certain African nations to abandon their neutral stances over the war in Ukraine and announced a push by Kyiv to intensify its ties with the continent, including by opening more embassies and holding a summit with Africa’s leaders.

Meanwhile, a 2nd Russia-Africa summit is to be held in Saint Petersburg in late July.