Russia's Lavrov begins Africa tour in junta-led Guinea

Russia, which has seen its relations with the West plummet after it sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, has sought to boost its influence in Africa inrecent years.
Russia's foreign ministry announced the visit on the Telegram social media app with a photo of Lavrov arriving at Conakry airport overnight.
It was his first visit to Guinea since 2013.
He was received by Guinean counter part Morissanda Kouyate. On Monday, Lavrovis due to meet Guinea's junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, in power since a 2021coup, Guinea's foreign ministry said.
Guinea is poor despite considerable mineral and natural resources and has endured decades of dictatorial rule, reports BSS.
State news agency Tass said Guinea would be part of a tour of Africancountries but did not give details on which other nations Lavrov would visit.
But Russian news agency afrinz.ru said he was expected in Chad on Wednesday"at the head of an important delegation".
The same article also said that a trip to Burkina Faso was possible, withoutproviding a specific date.
In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited African leaders to a summitin Saint Petersburg where he said they agreed to promote a multipolar worldorder and to fight neo-colonialism.
Putin hailed the "commitment of all our states to the formation of a just anddemocratic multipolar world order" during a statement following the summit.