Mali’s CITES CoP20 head of delegation (in blue outfit) and fellow West African delegates pictured with Western anti-trade animal-rights NGO representatives during a sightseeing weekend break from CoP20. Observers argue that such informal engagements cultivate anti-trade positions away from official scrutiny. The individual in blue later photographed me when he saw me interviewing a fellow Western African and I just smiled at him
CITES CoP20 INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
ALLEGATIONS OF VOTE-RIGGING PERSIST AS CITES URGES COUNTRIES TO SUBMIT FORMAL COMPLAINTS By Emmanuel Koro, 17 December 2025 After investigating vote-rigging within the CITES decision-making framework across three Conferences of the Parties (CoPs) 2019, 2022…
20 December 2025
Dr Phenyo Buitale at 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, December 19-20
Botswana Seeks Deeper Russia Ties as Cairo Forum Charts Africa’s Strategic Future
Cairo, Egypt — December 20, 2025. Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale, used the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo to underscore Botswana’s intent to strengthen ties with Moscow,…
20 December 2025
Empire Speaks Without Shame: When Plunder Is Declared Policy
By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa There are moments in history when empires abandon their masks. Moments when the language of “democracy,” “human rights,” and “international order” is discarded, and naked power speaks in its own brutal…
19 December 2025
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Russia–Africa: New Horizons for Old Friends
by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for African media dedicated to the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Cairo will soon host an important political event: heads and officials of the foreign ministries…
18 December 2025
Moscow Voices Concern Over Escalating Crisis in Eastern Congo
The Russian government has expressed deep concern over renewed violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that the humanitarian toll continues to mount as hundreds of thousands remain…
15 December 2025
“Moscow Condemns EU Proposal to Tap Frozen Assets for Ukraine”
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission published on its website the press release ‘Commission unveils two solutions to support Ukraine’s financing needs in 2026–2027’ and the draft regulation ‘Proposal establishing the Reparations Loan to Ukraine’, providing for unauthorised use of Bank of Russia assets held by European financial institutions, including the Euroclear…
15 December 2025
“BRICS Sherpa Meeting Highlights Strategic Achievements and Future Initiatives Under Brazilian Chairmanship”
Deputy Foreign Minister and Russia’s Sherpa for BRICS Sergey Ryabkov took part in the end-of-year sherpa/sous-sherpa meeting of BRICS countries under the Brazilian chairmanship in Brasília on December 11-12. The participants reviewed this year’s cooperation…
15 December 2025
On-December-12-Minister-of-Foreign-Affairs-of-Russia-Sergey-Lavrov-and-Minister-of-International-Relations-and-Cooperation-of-South-Africa-Ronald-Lamola-held-a-telephone-conversation.jpeg
Russia and South Africa Foreign Ministers Reaffirm G20 Cooperation Amid Global Tensions
December 12, 2025 — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola held a telephone conversation Friday, focusing on cooperation within the Group of 20 (G20).The ministers…
15 December 2025
Russian Foreign Ministry’s press release on the UN International Court of Justice’s acceptance for hearing of the matter of Ukraine’s responsibility for genocide and related crimes
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has upheld the Russian Federation’s position and accepted its counter-claims against Ukraine for hearing under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. All…
12 December 2025
Vietnam joins BRICS' counter terrorism effort
BRICS+ Counter-Terrorism Conference in Moscow Discusses Measures to Prevent the Spread of Fascist and neo-Nazi Ideas
Moscow, December 4 — The BRICS+ Counter-Terrorism Conference, held December 3–4 under the auspices of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together more than a hundred representatives from government agencies, academia, civil society, and international…
9 December 2025
