By AFPMore by this AuthorSochi,President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosts dozens of African leaders for the first Russia-Africa Summit, as Moscow seeks greater influence on a continent where the West and China have a firm foothold. ALL AFRICAN STATESAll 54 African states would be sending a representative, Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov said. Moscow was a crucial player on the continent in the Soviet era, backing independence movements and training a generation of African leaders. Putin has scheduled 13 bilateral meetings with African leaders in a bid to further extend the Kremlin's influence. Putin -- who has been in power for the past 20 years -- has only ever visited South Africa in sub-Saharan Africa, preferring to host leaders from the continent in Russia.

Source: Daily Nation October 23, 2019 03:33 UTC