Brazzaville – Congo-Brazzaville and Russia inked a raft of new cooperation accords on Friday in the African country’s capital as a sign of deepening bilateral ties.
“The signature… contributes to the consolidation of our relations,” said Minister of International Cooperation Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso after signing five accords with Russian first deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin.
Brazzaville has remained neutral in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine as it fosters closer links with Moscow which include the planned building of a 1 000km (625 mile) oil pipeline in the country.
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Russian energy infrastructure constructor Prometey has been earmarked to build the project, though the financing and timeline remains unclear.
The accords and memoranda signed Friday, deepening ties going back to 1964 and previously focusing primarily on military and student links, relate to technology, communications, health, research and sport.
Congo-Brazzaville was one of 35 nations that abstained in a UN vote condemning and calling for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@AFlagADay
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