The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, one of Russia's largest internationally oriented, educational and research institutions, has already marked the 60th year of its establishment, and there has been an appreciable implications for economic development and supporting sustainable diplomacy across Africa.
In those 60 years, RUDN has grown from humble beginnings, steadily transformed into what it is today: with a clustered infrastructure and facilities, can unreservedlt be described as a globally respected educational institution setting the pace in the development of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Together with the powerful entreprenuerial Rector and the collective teaching staff collective to promote Africa. In the Russian Federation, Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University set the same objectives, but comparatively RUDN is an example of an educational institution with recognizable multipolar prerequisites and conditions. Despite the challenges, it deserves skyline platitudes. These must be accorded to Professor Vladimir Filippov.
Over these years, the university has trained tens of thousands of qualified professionals in economics, agriculture (agronomy), medicine, law, history, philology and other disciplines, making a unique contribution to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
There some qualities, but respect for diversity is one of the strengths of this university. The diversity of professionals trained since 1960, its date of establishment, is immeasurable and indescribable as traditionally friendly ties have gained new momentum between Russia and Africa. Simply put - the graduates are the solid bridges connecting Russia and Africa today.
Contributions to Russia-Africa Relations
These areas include:
(i) Health Science Education: The entire Africa, at least, has medical specialists trained over these years. The Soviet Union made an invaluable contribution to developing the health and health related scientific education of African countries. In addition, particular attention has been given to training people to handle the huge burden of infectious diseases in Africa.
(ii) Agricultural sector and industry: Africa is generally agricultural, and therefore it becomes increasingly necessary for qualified agronomist and engineers. This the university has done extremely well for the continent. This Russian Friendship University has provided modern technology and cutting-edge expertise for the these industries.
(iii) Social and Economic Development:The improvement of general education and professional training offered African students has, in practical terms, supported the socia-economic development of Africa. Economist and social scientists have made immeasurable impact on the development in Africa. Until today, the graduates, playing important roles, can be located in many countries there.
(iv) Politics and Education: Africa's fast-growing education sector is still expanding and political sphere very active. Soviet and Russian trained graduates are making rapid inroads into politics and into teaching. Practicing politics and teaching in edicational institutions are undergoing an overarching trend, so it would not be surprising to find some of the RUDN graduates across these fields in Africa.
From above, these remarkable impact specifically on the economy of Africa is inextricably attributable to Professor Vladimir Filippov - Hon. President of the Rector of Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba. (https://thenewdawnliberia.com/sixty-years-and-still-growing-stronger-as-un-university/)
From a modest beginning as a lecture of Physics and Mathematics, Vladimir Filippov has steadily climbed the employment ladder to become Honourary President of a distinctive brand of Russia's educational institution, and beyond that uplifted the relations between Russia and Africa.
Filippov's family and education background:
In between his academic career, he also held the position as State Minister of Education of the Russian Federation in 1998–2004. He was born on 15 April 1951 in the town of Uryupinsk, Stalingrad Region (now the Volgograd Region). In 1968, he entered Patrice Lumumba University of Peoples' Friendship. In 1973, Filippov graduated the Faculty Science (major: mathematics) and started his course of postgraduate education. In 1975–1976, he served in the USSR armed forces.
After the military service, Filippov came back to the university where he worked as an assistant lecturer of the University Union of Higher Mathematics, Chairman of the University Union of young scholars, Head of the Department of Mathematical Analysis, Dean of the Faculty Science, since June 1993 has been the Rector of Peoples' Friendship University of Russia until his retirement in 2021.
Long before the collapse of the Soviet era, Russian University of Peoples' Friendship established in 1960 has the primary task of training and educating third world students from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Until today, that tradition continues, preparing future leaders. In an interview with this article's author, Filippov said, "The Russian University of Peoples' Friendship has the biggest number of international students in the Russian Federation, so international cooperation is our priority."
Indeed, the geography is expanding – during these past years. For RUDN, geography and the level of knowledge of applicants have always been a priority. Over the past several years, students had come from more than 150 countries. The graduates are professionals and leaders in medicine and politics, civil engineering and economics, agronomy and diplomacy … RUDN graduates unite in associations maintaining relations with the university, according to Filippov.
During discussions with Filippov, I asked gave him one more important question: Aware of the importance of international recognition of the Russian education system, it still seems that Russian universities have to inculcate diversified cultural tolerance, take advantage of multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism, aspects of modern life, which are necessary pre-requisites for any success in the now globalized world. Do you have any objections to these, as a former Education Minister?
Filippov's Perceptions
Vladimir Filippov replied: Most ethnic-related problems are absolutely due to ignorance, misunderstanding, or disrespect for another culture. At RUDN, the principle of peoples' friendship lies in the very name of the university. For us, the culture of interethnic communication is the norm, this is what we get used to from the very first day at the university when it was established. In our university, there is even among students a popular slogan – "We Are Different – We Are Equal!"
In a globalized world, friendship with representatives of several states is an undoubted advantage because an international university has to project itself as global community and that really makes the world a better place to grow up, and the university seriously focused on cultivating eternal friendship.
Filippov has helped equiped the university with educational technologies into the education process. New infrastructures have appeared, blocks of residence modernized. It has expanded the network of partner universities. There is a serious progress in a multilingual environment — the graduates of bachelor's programs speak at least one foreign language at a serious proficient level as there is multi-graded system of assessing students' knowledge. RUDN is the most multidisciplinary university in the Russian Federation.
Brief History of RUDN
The stated purpose for establishing the university was to give young people from Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially from poor low-income families, an opportunity to be educated and to become qualified specialists. But that has also changed, wealthy families - both politicians and corporate business executives dispatch their children to acquire knowledge and training. The organizations, as founders of the university, are the All-Union Central Soviet of Trade Unions, the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee, and the Soviet Associations Union of Friendship and Intercultural Relationship.
The Soviet government founded the university on 5th February 1960. Its stated objective during the height of the Cold War was to help developing nations. Many students from developed countries attended the university. On 22nd February 1961, the university was named Patrice Lumumba University after the Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, who had been killed in a coup that January.
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=========ARTICLE No. 2
Professor Alexey Vasilyev: Great Personality in the History of Russian-African Relations
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
After the unexpected collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was an urgent necessity to preserve the relations between Russia and Africa. A lot of post-Soviet political changes took place at the crucial time, Boris Yeltsin became the first President of the Russian Federation.
It is historically worthy to note that all the Soviet republics attained their political independence and territorial sovereignty. Consequently, Russia was among these new republics. The primary task at the beginning was to redesign the constitution, update several state documents and, most importantly, to decide on a new foreign policy.
Determining the new foreign policy parameters was not an easy national task, to incorporate and maintain continuity of diplomatic relations with countries in the different regions of the world. Measuring the impact of today's experiences, the historical legacy carried over from Soviet times to the new phase (1991-1992) were made possible by a number of politicians, academics and researchers. Navigating carefully Russia's historical chronology is paramount, and giving resonating credits to personalities, who initially supported Russia's external relations with Africa, is duly significant here.
The post-Soviet political process entailed determining these initial tasks, reviewing policy performance with emerging challenges, highlighting various obstacles hindering policy implementation and charting future pathways into the multifaceted spheres with Africa. In addition, policy strategies were necessary tools carving new perceptions in dealing African leaders, public institutions, policymakers and the African public.
According reports, the Institute for African Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences serves as a trusted intermediary between Kremlin/MFA and Africa, during the past three decades. It created platforms for high-level discussions and provided the necessary support, in terms of political dialogues, strengthening economic partnerships as well as education and cultural directions between Russia and Africa.
Post-Soviet Players in Russia-African Landscape: Professor Alexey Mikhailovich Vasilyev
Obviously, Russia took the most difficult task, reminiscent of the Cold War in the 1980s and early 1990s when East-West confrontation was at its heights. Unforgetable roles were taken by prominent personalities, among them Professor Alexey Mikhailovich Vasilyev, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and the Honorary President of the Institute for African Studies (IAS). After him was appointed Professor Irina O. Abramova, who holds the position from 2016 until present).
Professor Alexey Vasilyev was the director of the Institute for African Studies (IAS) during Yeltsin's political administration (1992 until 2016). Later, in search for an experienced professional to positively influence Russian-African relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him as the first Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for contacts with the leaders of African states (2006-2011). Quite apart from that, he served as a member of the Foreign Policy Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recipient of state awards: the Orders of Honour and Friendship, various medals.
Over five decades of academic, literary and journalistic work, Professor Vasilyev has published 40 books, including revised editions and translations, and more than 900 articles in Russian and foreign academic journals, not counting several hundred interviews given to Russian and foreign TV and radio channels. He has been the chief editor of about 50 monographs, including the two-volume Encyclopedia of Africa.
Professor Vasilyev has pioneered the analysis of a number of socio-economic problems of Africa, in particular the assessment of the nature of the African society as multidimensional, combining patriarchal and traditional elements with modern ones. (The monographs Africa: The Stepchild of Globalization and Africa and the Challenges of the XXI Century).
Professor Vasilyev and Russia's African Agenda
The history of the contemporary Russia's relations with Africa largely has been built on the past, what was preserved since the Soviet times and early stages of post-Sovietism (1991 until now).
Professor Vasilyev said, during the International Africanist Conference under the theme 'Does Africa Need Russia or Russia Needs Africa' held in 2010, that "this new stage and this new quality of relations should be based on common values. It is based on long-standing traditions of friendship and solidarity created when the Soviet Union supported the struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, racism and apartheid, protected their independence and sovereignty, and helped establish statehood."
This article underscores the fact that the Kremlin and MFA largely operated under the guidance of Professor Vasilyev, moreso officially recognized as the President's Special Representative for African Affairs. He consistently offered the strategic initiatives in promoting the sustainability of relations with African countries. Undoubtedly, he created regularly platforms for high-level policy discussions and pathways for strengthening economic partnership between the Russian Federation and Africa.
Beyond that and still working under Putin, Professor Vasilyev also cooperated closely with Russian state institutions such the Federation Council and State Duma (the upper and lower legislative organs respectively) in adopting legislations and regulations relating to specific dimensions and aspects of bilateral agreements within the framework of the foreign policy for Africa.
Worth emphasizing here that Russia's new strategy (post-Soviet strategy) on Africa was first pursued by Professor Vasilyev with the first Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Kozyrev, Evgeny Primakov (Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Relations), and later with the then Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, and now Sergey Lavrov.
According to several narratives, since Soviet's collapse Russia has embarked on fighting "neo-colonialism" which it considers as a stumbling stone on its way to regain a part of its Soviet-era influence in Africa.
Russia continues to convince Africans, over the years, the likely dangers of neocolonial tendencies perpetrated by the former colonial Western and European powers and the scramble for resources on the continent. In order for Africa to have a fairer treatment and unified voice on international stage, Russia is relentlessly advocating for multipolarism, for establishing a new global order.
Professor Vasilyev's Influence on Africa's Development
Within the situation analysis, we can readily agree that Russia's approach towards Africa is a derivative of its foreign policy goals and objectives, the three key areas being:
a) Ensuring national security, integrity and political sovereignty. In the African context, this means primarily the danger of anything, including competition with other centers of power, that may push for negative impact on its national security. Russia stands against these negative tendencies in Africa.
b) Ensuring social and economic development of Africa. Africa is a promising market for Russia, and it factors in to facilitate the diversification and modernization of the continent's economy, but this is implemented on bilateral basis.
c) Strengthening the position of the Russian Federation as one of the influential centers in African world. Political dialogues with individual African countries, regional organizations and the African Union as friendly players make important diverse contributions to these efforts mentioned in (point a) and (point b) above.
Usually referred to as hugely endowed with resources, both natural and human, it is now an attraction for the global powers. Nevertheless, Russia's explicit position right after the Soviet era has been helping African states to protect their political sovereignty, to attain steadfast regional peace and stability, and further to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The fact can logically be established that "the early birds caught the flies" at this point of the discussion. There are personalities who supervised and implemented the policy after Soviet's collapse. In this context, Professor Alexey Vasilyev as Director of African Studies Institute (1992 until 2016) and as the President's Special Representative for African Affairs, in practical terms, has to his credit - so many landmark achievements and that has made an appreciable impact on Russia-African relations.
In a nutshell, the ideological basis for cooperation at this level is provided by the conceptual documents and ideas recognized and supported by African countries: the approach of - "African Solutions to African Problems" - is being followed, working within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the UN Development Goals 2030.
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--ARTICLE No. 3
First Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev: Great Personality in the History of Russian-African Relations
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Unbelievably, it was a fiction of political crash with the highest preposterous sound in 1991, it was indeed the final end of the powerful Soviet Union formed on the legitimate toil and sweat of the proletariat in 1917. Throughout its long decades, it unreservedly supported the political liberation struggle of third world countries, majority of these located across Africa.
Within Africa itself, the work of Presidents Gamel Abdel Nassar, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Nelson Mandela, Col. Muamar Gaddafi, et cetera, was considered a living force in the overwhelming support for attaining political independence which was, as a collective, finally declared in May 1960. Hence, every year May 25 is celebrated as the African Day. This history is closely linked to the Soviets until the last stage of 'glasnost and perestroika' under Mikhail Gorbachev. The Soviet Union disintegrated during the difficult stage, in the process of transformation and introduction of political innovations similar to China.
Consequently, the change-over necessitated the exit of Mikhail Gorbachev and the appearance of Boris Yeltsin as the first President of the Russian Federation. Under his administration during the formation of the new cabinet were industrious and hardworking professionals recruited into the government. Andrei Kozyrev was then appointed as the first Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs. He took harmonious and coordinated efforts towards sustaining the Soviet-era solidarity, internationalism and close operational expertise to work tirelessly with Africa. As the first Russian professional giant at the foreign ministry, he consistently attempted, within the emerging constraints at that unpredictable period, to support the economic cooperation and the political sovereignty of Africa, as it was previously before the Soviet collapse.
Who is Andrei Kozyrev
Andrei Kozyrev is a Russian politician who served as the former and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation under President Boris Yeltsin from October 1990 and, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, from 1992 until January 1996 for Russia.
In his position, he was credited with developing Russia's foreign policy immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union, although many in Russia criticized him for being weak and not assertive enough in defending Russian interests against the United States and Europe.
But besides those stack criticisms, Kozyrev most often spoke about anti-imperialist and pro-western positions. These two positions were positively viewed by the Russian nationalist politicians and party activists. Kozyrev had graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) with a PhD in history before joining the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974, holding various positions in it before being appointed foreign minister.
This being the first foreign minister has the greatest significance in the history of post-Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the age of 39, Kozyrev's career as the head in the Foreign Ministry marked him as a promising Soviet diplomat. Without much doubts, Boris Yeltsin trusted and depended to a large extent as reformers, which included Yegor Gaidar and Anatoly Chubais, and shared their Western liberal-democratic ideals.
He emphasized cooperation over conflict with the United States while insisting that Russia be treated as a great power in international politics rather than as a fallen superpower. He was also viewed by many as one of the most important voices for liberalism and democracy in post-communist Russia
After the collapse of the Soviet era, those succeeding (successive) formative years required a tremendous level of political transformative ideas and new approach in dealing with so many pertinent issues, most importantly foreign policy with regions, particularly Africa where Soviet Union supported. The relations between the Soviet Union and African countries were quite extensive, forged international solidarity and friendship.
Why Andrei Kozyrev be credited as Giant in Russian-African Relations
Due to the geopolitical change, Russia was passing through multifaceted internal difficulties, including in politics, economy and social spheres. A sudden change of political regime brings its own peculiar challenges, that was the early stage of capitalism in post-socialism Russia, with an emboldened tasks and responsibilities, not only within but also maintaining external relations with the world.
In practical terms, Russia had to deal with the neighbouring Soviet republics, that combined with its internal problems and, at the same time, played dominating roles and continued anti-Western policies in the continent of Africa. According archival reports,
In his earlier memoirs, Kozyrev complained of United States aggressively pushed back into the African continent after Russia was contemplating of moving out of this geopolitical region and traditional market for Soviet products. In fact, Russia's diplomatic office started cutting off staff, cultural mission trimmed down, projects were suspended. Kozyrev warned that empty promises are even worse than empty threats. And that Russia's relations with African unification would achieve its full realization through a continuation of a socialist path of development.
Despite everything, developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries has been the cornerstone of Russia's foreign policy, as well as a longstanding strategy since the Soviet times, and that has been carried over until now.
Historical documents further show that after the Soviet collapse there were approximately 380 projects throughout Africa. In the early 1990s, Russia swiftly exited, closed a number of diplomatic offices and abandoned all these, and hardly there have been dim-glowing memorable signs of Soviet-era infrastructure projects there.
Thereafter, policy statements have accentuated strong optimism for raising relations with Africa. Kremlin, as always, reiterates its own version. Nevertheless, it is so common reiterating that Russia has always been on Africa's side in the fight against colonialism and now neo-colonialism. And further to that, the frequency of reminding again and again about Soviet assistance increasingly dominated conferences and summits. So also over creating a fairer and better living conditions for future generations of Africa and Russia. Such statements have featured in several speeches, these several years, from Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and now Sergey Lavrov.
Digging further into the archives for his speeches in preparing this article, Kozyrev's achievements included sustaining Russia-African policy ideals, share past experiences, enhancing cooperation and working together for common future perspectives.
Next, Kozyrev was painstakingly committed to boosting the well-established status of Russia-Africa ties. In addition, he constantly emphasized the importance of ensuring stability and sustainable development trends, developing and strengthening economic ties as the surest path to guarantee economic sovereignty for the continent.
Offering Gratitude and Recognition
During the later years from Igor Ivanov and Sergey Lavrov, aspects of post-Soviet foreign achievements particularly with Africa's directions by first Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev were, unfortunately, buried under the snow in the Arctic. It was erased from the official files and little was known about this transitional period when Boris Yeltsin took over Russia.
Worth saying here that the Kremlin and the officialdom have to offer, at least, some gratitude however fascinating insights into Moscow's foreign policy at that time (1991 until 2006) when everything seemed impossible, including, perhaps, Russia's numerous conflicts anchored in by the West and Europe.
In a nutshell and whatever was the case, Andrei Kozyrev chased the tremendous goal like that firebird of the Russian fairy tales in Africa. At least, RusAfro Media has to select this article to wonderfully credit the first Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He made the indelible mark, by actions and in deeds, and to be recognized as one of the Great Personalities in the history of relations between Russia and Africa.
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