This is an expanded version of an article which was first published on The Cradle on August 1st The oft-repeated neoliberal messaging proclaiming Russia’s isolation as a pariah state is wearing thin. While the self-mutilating Trans-Atlantic community are loyally following the call to cut ties with Russia even if it means destroying the livelihoods of their own citizens, other nations- including most of Southwest Asia, and Africa don’t appear to be taking this call to self-destruction very seriously.
Will the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System release the 14 countries held hostage to the African franc, Matt? I remember that they're not allowed to create their own currency for internal trade and that their profits from foreign sales are held in the French treasury--currency colonialism as I call it in my book.
« Russia and African countries work on second Russia-Africa summit agenda — Lavrov
The second Russia-Africa summit will be held in Russia in 2023 »
Lavrov added at the SCO meeting in Tashkent July 27
« African countries (and not only them) and our other interlocutors (we spoke with our SCO colleagues yesterday and today) are well aware that any of the members of the international community who act in a way that is undesirable to the Americans or that causes their rejection may be subject to sanctions. This idea is firmly entrenched in everyone's mind. How do you help with that? Today we agreed that we will submit proposals for consideration by the leaders on specific actions to switch to settlement in national currencies. I think everyone will be thinking about it now. Africa already has a similar experience: common currencies in some subregional structures, which, nevertheless, by and large, are tied to Western ones. From 2023, a continental free trade zone will begin to function on the African continent. The logical step would be to back it up with currency agreements. I think this process will definitely go.... »
Russia in Africa: Connecting Continents with Soft Power
Matt, your articles should be on the desk of every member of Congress. Then they would get a much clearer picture of the world.
Brilliant. This gives me enormous hope. I will share widely.
Will the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System release the 14 countries held hostage to the African franc, Matt? I remember that they're not allowed to create their own currency for internal trade and that their profits from foreign sales are held in the French treasury--currency colonialism as I call it in my book.
You write the next Russia Africa Summit is to be held in Addis this year
Tass reports- https://tass.com/politics/1483291
« Russia and African countries work on second Russia-Africa summit agenda — Lavrov
The second Russia-Africa summit will be held in Russia in 2023 »
Lavrov added at the SCO meeting in Tashkent July 27
« African countries (and not only them) and our other interlocutors (we spoke with our SCO colleagues yesterday and today) are well aware that any of the members of the international community who act in a way that is undesirable to the Americans or that causes their rejection may be subject to sanctions. This idea is firmly entrenched in everyone's mind. How do you help with that? Today we agreed that we will submit proposals for consideration by the leaders on specific actions to switch to settlement in national currencies. I think everyone will be thinking about it now. Africa already has a similar experience: common currencies in some subregional structures, which, nevertheless, by and large, are tied to Western ones. From 2023, a continental free trade zone will begin to function on the African continent. The logical step would be to back it up with currency agreements. I think this process will definitely go.... »
Well, a month's worth of good news in one posting! That is a big breath of fresh air.
It reminds me very much of the North American-Russian rail hopes of the 1800s. It would be revolutionary in the best ways.
Matt,
think it was Congo Brazzaville, and not DRC, that Mr Sergey Lavrov visited.