The key facts

  • The agreement abolishing visas for diplomatic and service passports was signed in Moscow on October 28
  • The document was signed during a meeting between Georgy Borisenko and Ugandan Minister Keiyune Haruna Kasolo
  • On the same day, Putin quoted an African proverb and earlier spoke of 'debt bondage'

Signing of the agreement

Russia and Uganda have signed an agreement on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. The document was signed in Moscow on October 28 during a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko and Uganda's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem — Keiyune Haruna Kasolo; the talks took place on the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa Summit.

What was discussed at the meeting

In addition to the visa issue, the sides exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations and discussed further strengthening of the 'traditionally friendly ties' between the two countries. It is important to emphasize that the signed agreement covers only two categories of passports — diplomatic and service; the Foreign Ministry's statement made no mention of a visa-free regime for holders of ordinary general-civil passports.

Putin's statements on the day of the summit

On the same day, October 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking about Moscow's relations with African countries, quoted an African proverb: 'when the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.' Earlier, according to the same outlet, he said that Western countries are trying to 'drive Africans back into debt bondage' and impose financial resources on them 'on predatory terms.' Gazeta.Ru also noted that in the West, a certain 'signal' was seen in the Russian president's remarks during the summit — this assessment belongs to the Western side and is cited by the outlet without details.