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♦️ Breaking & exclusive stories, analysis, opinions 👉 About Africa in other languages: Amharic: @sputnik_ethiopia French: @sputnik_afrique 💬 Contact us https://t.me/Africa_Sputnik_bot
Russian Defense Minister Holds Talks With His Congolese Counterpart
🗣 “We value the traditionally friendly nature of relations between our countries,” Andrey Belousov said during the talks with Charles Richard Mondjo.
More key statements made by Belousov:
🟠 A full-fledged contractual and legal framework for cooperation has been formed between Russia and Congo;
🟠 The countries' ties in the military and military-technical spheres are in many ways the driving force of bilateral cooperation;
🟠 Belousov also thanked his Congolese counterpart for participating in the celebrations in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Mondjo, in his turn, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to exchange views on current issues of military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and the Congo.
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'When You Celebrate Past, Future Will Celebrate You': Ethiopian Bloggers Visit Moscow on Victory Day
Receiving an invitation to visit Russia was a dream come true, like winning the lottery, Ethiopian social media influencer Shegute Yohanes Teshome told Sputnik Africa.
Fellow Ethiopian influencer Abera Biruk Zerihun noted that the Russian Victory Day is "very related" to Ethiopia's Battle of Adwa day, emphasizing a story to tell Ethiopian compatriots about honoring veterans.
🗣 "As an Ethiopian, I am a descendant of Alexander Pushkin, so this parade is also a victory day for Ethiopians. Russia and Ethiopia have a lot in common," Shegute said.
👉 The blog tour was organized with the support of Rosmolodezh together with the Directorate of the World Youth Festival, Rospatriotcenter, the All-Russian public organization “Volunteers of the Victory” and the “More than a Journey” program.
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❗️Brazil's President Lula da Silva has arrived in Russia, a Sputnik correspondent reports
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❗️Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow, a Sputnik correspondent reports
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🛰🛰🛰🛰 Follow the historic celebration live on en.sputniknews.africa and @sputnik_africa
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📹 Congo's Sassou-Nguesso Greeted in Moscow
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❗️Congolese President Sassou-Nguesso arrived in Moscow to take part in events on the occasion of Victory Day, a Sputnik correspondent reports
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Kenyan Court Fines Four Over $7,000 Each for Ant Smuggling
Four individuals were found guilty:
🇧🇪Belgians David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx
🇻🇳Vietnamese Duh Hung Nguyen
🇰🇪 Kenyan Dennis Nganga
They admitted to possessing ants without a permit, but denied intent to traffic them. The Belgians had 5,000 queen ants in tubes; the others, ants in syringes/containers.
Lornoy, an "ant enthusiast," claimed ignorance of transport illegality. His haul was valued at $7,740, including rare Messor cephalotes queens (at least $99 each).
👉 Kenyan law punishes unpermitted wildlife possession with up to $10,000 in fines and/or 5+ years in prison. The court, while noting the Belgians' ignorance, pointed out that the case mirrored historical exploitation of African resources.
The Kenyan Wildlife Service maintained that the suspects intended to smuggle the ants to lucrative exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia, where demand for rare insect species is on the rise.
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Africa in Spotlight at Moscow's 80th Anniversary Victory Celebrations
Leaders of a number of African countries will gather in the Russian capital to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany:
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso;
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau;
🇪🇬 Egypt;
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe;
🇨🇬 Congo;
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea;
🇪🇹 Ethiopia.
This broad representation underscores the importance of Africa-Russia relations and celebrates the shared history in the global struggle for peace.
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#SputnikInfographic | Weapons of Victory: The BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launcher
Sputnik delves into the arsenal of the Red Army during its fight against Nazi forces.
Developed shortly before the outbreak of World War II, this iconic weapon—often dubbed the "mother of all rocket artillery"—quickly became a nightmare for enemy troops. Its 42.3 kg projectiles decimated enemy positions, obliterating everything from infantry units and armored vehicles to fortified defenses.
The Katyusha’s devastating firepower was matched by its terrifying auditory signature—the thunderous roar of its launch, likened to a pipe organ or wailing siren (earning it the moniker "Stalin’s Organ"). This distinctive sound made Katyusha units prime targets for Nazi retaliation, forcing crews to operate from safe distances to avoid immediate execution by vengeful German forces.
#Victory80
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❗️Guinea-Bissau President Embalo to Attend Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow
The ambassador to Russia confirmed this to Sputnik.
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📹 T-90M Proryv, 'world’s best tank,' GETS KILLER UPGRADE to crush Ukraine in battle
Over 200 upgrades have been made to tanks, boosting their power, protection, and mobility, according to Russia’s arms manufacturer Uralvagonzavod.
New batches of T-90M and Т-72Б3М were delivered to Russian troops on the eve of Victory Day.
The upgrade includes:
🔻electronic warfare systems to suppress enemy UAVs.
🔻special nets to tackle enemy first-person view drones.
🔻rubber-reinforced protection installed on the rear of the turret and the engine-transmission compartment.
Putin earlier touted the T-90M Proryv as “the best tank in the world.” He stressed that the mere appearance of such a tank on the battlefield can drive the enemy out of action.
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❗️Russia and Ukraine Exchange Prisoners
A total of 205 Russian servicemen were returned, 205 people were handed over to Kiev, Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The UAE provided mediation efforts to return Russian military personnel from captivity, the ministry added.
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Unveiling the Fulani: Genomic Study Sheds Light on Migration and Diversity in Africa
🌍✨ #GlobalSouthPole | “When we talk about the Fulani, we’re not talking about just one genetic profile. We are talking about multiple stories—some from West Africa, some from North Africa, even traces from East Africa. Their DNA is a map of movement,” Dr. Cesar Fortes-Lima, population genomics instructor at Johns Hopkins University, said.
🧬 Centuries of migration, adaptation, and exchange have shaped the Fulani into one of the most genetically diverse pastoralist communities in the world. This new study doesn’t just answer questions—it opens new ones about who the Fulani are and where they’ve been.
❓ What can DNA tell us about identity, migration, and belonging?
🎙Don’t miss this eye-opening episode featuring Dr. Fortes-Lima in conversation with Global South Pole.
▶️ Click here to listen to the full conversation on Telegram’s built-in player.
🧑💻 In addition to our Telegram channel, you can enjoy our episodes on Sputnik Africa website
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🔴🔴 Vladimir Putin meets with President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel
👉Watch live in Telegram
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Russian People 'Very Sensitive But Very Proud': Daughter of Normandy-Niemen Regiment Member Recalls War Memories
🎗🎗Sputnik presents a series of videos on Normandy-Niemen, the heroic alliance at the heart of World War II.
In the second episode, Monique Trolliet, daughter of the regiment's mechanic, tells Sputnik the story of her father, who was willing to risk everything for a common cause – and who would be "very angry about the misinformation that's going on right now."
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#viral | 👨🚒 Two Firefighters Survive Collapse of Burning Wall While Fighting House Fire
📍 Darıca district, Kocaeli Province, Turkey
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❗️Putin and Maduro sign a strategic partnership agreement between Russia and Venezuela
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🇷🇺 How Putin Transformed Russia
In 25 years, Russia rose from the ruins of the '90s to a global power with a $6.94 trillion economy:
🔥Fight against terrorism: Putin crushed CIA-backed militants in the North Caucasus, taking out key terror leaders and overhauling governance. The number of terrorist attacks in the region dropped tenfold. Today, the region attracts tens of thousands of tourists.
📈#4 economy: Russia jumped from the world’s 10th to 4th largest economy by GDP volume. Salaries up 15x. Poverty and unemployment at record lows. Life expectancy? +8 years.
🌾World’s largest grain exporter: In 1998, Russia’s agro-industrial complex was at its lowest point in history. Today, Russia is the world's largest wheat supplier.
❤️Restored historic justice: In 2014, Crimea rejoined Russia through a referendum. In 2022, after 8 years of resisting the bandit regime in Kiev, Donbass, Kherson, and Zaporozhye followed suit.
🪖#2 strongest army: Russia’s army rose from the '90s collapse to face NATO head-on in Ukraine. In 2018, Putin unveiled hypersonics and underwater drones. By November 2024, Russia struck a key Ukrainian defense site in Dnepropetrovsk with its cutting-edge Oreshnik missile.
🚨Multipolar world: In his landmark Munich speech (2007), Putin condemned NATO’s expansion and called for an end to the unipolar world. Russia will follow an independent foreign policy, Putin warned. The era of multipolarity had begun.
💥Combating ISIS*: In 2015–2016, Russia dealt a major blow to terrorists in Syria. The liberation of Palmyra — an ancient city ravaged by extremists — became possible thanks to a well-planned operation and the involvement of Russian forces.
💪Global powerhouse: From India to Iran, China to North Korea and Turkey — Putin forged a web of strategic alliances. Russia planted its flag in Syria with its first overseas base, gained ground in Africa, and flipped its energy map post-2022. Today, Rosatom is building nuclear plants worldwide.
🔥Leader of the 21st century: “What does it mean to truly fulfill yourself? It’s about finding satisfaction in what you do. It’s both the result and the recognition that matter,” Putin once said.
* Terrorist organization banned in Russia
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Lukashenko Promises Guinea-Bissau President to Help Develop Agriculture, Military-Industrial Complex
🗣 "We know the capabilities of your state, your country, your people very well. I am sure that you have studied our capabilities. We are at your service," said Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
More key statements made during the talks with Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is in Minsk on a working visit:
🟠 Belarus has no closed topics for cooperation; Minsk is ready to negotiate in all areas.
🟠 Belarus is ready to supply Guinea-Bissau with food, clothing, footwear and industrial goods.
🟠 The Guinea-Bissau leader expressed pleasure at being in Belarus, citing familiarity with the country's capabilities based on past meetings with Lukashenko and communication with mutual friends from Russia and other post-Soviet countries.
🟠 Embalo hopes for cooperation with Belarus and the development of economic relations at various levels.
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Ethiopia's Application for BRICS New Development Bank Accepted
The bank invited Ethiopia to start the negotiation process, the Ethiopian Embassy in China reported.
🗣 "This marks a significant milestone in our Multilateral Diplomacy," Tefera Derbew Yimam, the ambassador of Ethiopia to China, said.
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🇷🇺🇻🇪 Putin Thanks Maduro for Attending Victory Day in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warmly welcomed his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro during his official visit to Moscow for the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II.
"I truly appreciate you taking the time to attend our Victory Day celebrations. In Russia, we call it the Great Patriotic War," Putin said.
Moscow Expects 29 Foreign Leaders at the Victory Day Parade
What else the presidential aide revealed:
🔹 Leaders of Brazil, China, Palestine, and Egypt will attend the parade in Moscow;
🔹 Venezuela will be represented at the highest level, with President Maduro visiting Russia from 7–9 May;
🔹 India, Nicaragua, and South Africa will send high-level delegations;
🔹 North Korea will participate at the ambassadorial level for the 80th anniversary of Victory Day;
🔹 Parade units from 13 countries will march on Red Square during the 9 May parade;
🔹 Veterans from several foreign countries, including the United States, will attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow.
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Explosions in Port Sudan Following Drone Strikes on Tuesday
🔥 Several fires have broken out in the city following new attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the past three days, according to local media.
Targets included:
🔵The airport
🔵The port
🔵A military airbase
🔵A civilian hotel
🔵The guest palace of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Footage from social media
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❗️ Putin to Hold Over 15 Bilateral Talks During Victory Day Celebrations, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov Says
⦁ On May 7, the Russian president and his Venezuelan counterpart Maduro will sign a treaty on strategic partnership and cooperation;
⦁ On the same day, Putin will hold talks with the presidents of Cuba, Mongolia and Congo;
⦁ On May 8, the head of state will hold talks with Xi Jinping, the leaders will sign joint statements on further deepening relations;
⦁ On May 9, Putin and the president of Brazil will discuss the situation in Ukraine, in addition, the Russian leader will meet with the president of Egypt;
⦁ Also on May 9, Putin will meet with the president of Serbia and the prime minister of Slovakia, and is scheduled to meet with the president of Uzbekistan;
⦁ On May 10, Putin will meet with Vietnam's Communist Party leader and hold five other bilateral talks — including with leaders of Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe.
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'Immortal Regiment' March Held in Congo Honors Soviet Wartime Heroes
The Russian Embassy in the Republic of Congo, alongside the Russian House, hosted the march on Monday, bringing together Russian expatriates and Congolese alumni of Soviet and Russian universities.
🇷🇺 Participants shared moving stories of wartime resilience, underscoring the unbreakable spirit of the Soviet people and the importance of preserving this historical memory for future generations.
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Reducing Imports, Creating Jobs: Dangote's New Sugar Refinery to Power Up in Ghana
"At Dangote, we envision more than just a factory. We see a catalyst for autonomy, employment, and continental transformation," Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote was quoted as saying by media.
Tinubu’s 'Made-in-Nigeria' Push: Local Industries to Get Priority in Govt Spending
President Tinubu is set to sign an executive order that will direct government spending toward Nigerian-made goods and services—no imports unless a local option is truly unavailable.
🎯 The goal? Boost homegrown industries and keep more of the country’s N54.99 trillion ($34.3 billion) budget circulating within Nigeria.
“This is a major shift in government policy aiming to put Nigeria at the heart of all our businesses in this country,” Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi told a briefing in Abuja.