Putin tells African leaders Moscow will not pursue ‘neo-colonialism’

President Vladimir Putin has told African leaders visiting Moscow that Russia does not engage in “neo-colonial exploitation” of the continent, unlike former colonial powers. Speaking at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin said the West is still trying ‌to exploit the continent’s resources and uses debt to hold back development. “Africa is increasingly asserting itself as one of the key players in the global economy and politics. However, the emergence of a multipolar world is, of course, no easy task; it faces resistance from countries that are not prepared to accept this reality,” Putin told the summit.