By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) — Russia faces vaccine production challenges to meet the increasing market demand and to make prompt delivery on its current pledges to external countries. As vaccine production and distribution intensifies, rivalry and competition strengthen and the fight for market share and its associated disinformation abound worldwide. Russian President Vladimir […]
World’s Largest Free Trade Area Opens for Business in Africa
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) — The opening of the world’s largest free trade area in Africa on January 1, 2021, is of great interest to Russia. It comes more than one year after the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi on the Black Sea. As Russian President Vladimir Putin then said: “The event really […]
Russia Blames U.S. for Youth Protests
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – While Russia is currently investigating reasons behind the unsanctioned January 23 mass protest that took place in central Moscow and many other regions including the Far East, it has allegedly accused the United States of meddling in its domestic affairs. According to human rights organisations, over 3,600 people […]
India Succeeds Russia as BRICS Chair Amid Rising Challenges
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – India assumes the rotating Chairmanship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) regional association on January 1, 2021. The South Asian nation takes over from Russia under whose leadership the organization managed to achieve progress in the political, economic and humanitarian fields. During the five-nation bloc’s […]
Russia Expanding Its Military Bases in Africa
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – After years of negotiations with Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia to establish naval bases, Russia has finally signed an agreement with Sudan, signifying further its return to Africa. Sharing a northern border with Egypt, Sudan is located on the strategic Red Sea coastline. Moscow had a naval base in […]
The Five-Nation BRICS Finds Unity in Cultural Diversity
Interview by Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – Under the Russian Chairmanship of BRICS 2020, Moscow has organised and hosted a series of corporate conferences, business forums and other important events. For example, the Roundtable discussion on the theme “International Cultural Cooperation for Strengthening BRICS Unity” brought high-profiled participants from Brazil, Russia, India, China and […]
Undeterred by Health Warnings, Russians Begin Flocking to Africa’s Islands
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – Despite the worsening coronavirus situation in Russia, at least during the months of October and November, Russian tourism agencies have briskly been organizing group tours to the Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar, Seychelles and Mauritius. Obviously, because the islands seem to have the lowest cases of the pandemic […]
Five BRICS Countries Accentuate UN’s Central Role in International Affairs
Parliamentarians Pledge Partnership for Global Stability By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – Parliamentarians of five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have pledged to join hands in combating COVID-19, facing the challenges and threats that each member state currently faces, and strengthening cooperation, including at the inter-parliamentary level. In view of […]
BRICS Civil Forum Evolving from Strength to Strength
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – Since its establishment in 2009, BRICS, an association of five major emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has had a significant influence and expanded in many directions, one of which is the BRICS Civil Forum. Significant to recall that during the 7th summit held in […]
Russia Makes Inroads into the Central African Republic
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – On the margins of 75th session of the General Assembly, which commenced on September 15 in virtual format amid Covid-19, UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened a high-level meeting on the Central African Republic with President Faustin-Archange Touadera, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and […]