BY AHMED MEHAMED
Russia is stepping up its presence in East Africa with chiefly aiming at expediting the geo -economic potential of the Horn in mind.
If the plan translates in to action, reports say, Russia’s aim could reshape the economic and geo-political situation in the Horn of Africa in general and Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti as well as Central African Republic in particular.
In its latest publication, TASS said that Russia would unlock the combined Geo-Economic potentials of Ethiopia, Djibouti and South Sudan, adding the country showed will and commitment to do so.
The Moscow-based TASS announced its take after it interviewed Ethiopian and South Sudanese ambassadors to Moscow, where the ambassadors shared their respective nations’ commitment for shared values and destiny.
South Sudanese Ambassador to Moscow, Chol Tong Mayai Jang, said his country and Russia are committed to take their shared vision into a new height.
Russia and East Africa, namely, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Djibouti, are reshaping their long period relationship, all aiming at paving ways for their combined geo-economic potential to be unlocked.
A deal has been inked between Russia and South Sudan- a moving accord for Russia to map all of South Sudan’s natural resources for the first time in history.
Russia has shown desire to build an oil refinery and even alternative Red Sea Pipelines via Ethiopia-Djibouti, a project for which finance has been secured. While negotiations are in progress preliminary studies have been conducted, TASS said, quoting the ambassador.
The ambassador also said potential oil companies and investment firms of Russia could have roles for the economic integration of the region and beyond.
Chol Tong Mayai Jang also expressed his hope that Russia will use its influence at the UNSC to remove the sanctions against his country.
The Ethiopian Ambassador to Russia late in September said that the relationship between Ethiopia and Russia is taking new shape with newly introduced packages, such as increased flights.
The years ahead look bright for Russia and East Africa as they have long proven shared values and common destiny, such as trade and investment.
Coupled with the major stakes that Djibouti or any other state that will provide Ethiopia with Sea outlet could receive from GERD or any other Ethiopian mega project or firm, Russia’s move to bring stakes like South Sudan and Central African Republic would profit all parties and cement relation with Russia.
Dibouti, for example, spends about USD2 billion per annum for fuel importation and gets the same revenue from Ethiopia via port rent. And S. Sudan is not tapping its resources including oil and minerals due to long-routed and costly infrastructure to seaport. And Central African Republic, another land locked state under good terms with Moscow, need to come in to play to get Russia passage through S. Sudan.
Therefore, Ethiopia’s mouth-watering offer as a return to seaport award, South Sudan’s quest for alternative sea outlet as a better way of instant economic development through effective utilization of resources, Djibouti’s annual fee for fuel import, and Russia’s ambition to unlock the geo-economic potential of the region including Central African Republic would pay off unprecedently to all parties, according to TASS.
Other actors of similar economic needs like Eritrea and Somalia can in fact join the scheme that would undoubtedly lead to economic integration.