Kenya said Monday it has agreed to boost trade ties with Moscow, during a surprise visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the East African powerhouse. "Kenya calls for a resolution of the conflict in a manner respectful to the two parties," he said in a statement issued by his office after Ruto met with Lavrov. Ruto said trade between Nairobi and Moscow was still low despite the "huge potential" and that the two countries would be signing a trade pact, the statement said, without elaborating. Kenya exported $55 million worth of products to Russia in 2022, while imports totalled $266 million, according to the latest Kenyan government figures. Russia has ties with African countries that can be traced to the Cold War, when the Soviet Union cast itself as an anti-colonialist defender.

Source: News 24 May 30, 2023 05:25 UTC