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Polish president to counter Russian propaganda on Africa visit

06.09.2022 07:30
Poland’s president starts a three-day visit to Africa on Tuesday, in a bid to counteract Russian propaganda about the food crisis, which has been fuelled by the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, officials have said.
Polands President Andrzej Duda (fourth from left) boards a plane as he leaves for a three-day trip to Africa, in Warsaw on Monday, September 5, 2022.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda (fourth from left) boards a plane as he leaves for a three-day trip to Africa, in Warsaw on Monday, September 5, 2022. PAP/Leszek Szymański

Andrzej Duda will visit Nigeria on Tuesday, followed by stops in the Ivory Coast on Wednesday and Senegal on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

In Nigeria, the Polish president is set to hold talks with his counterpart Muhammadu Buhari. 

Later in the day, Duda will meet Nigeria’s business leaders, graduates of Polish universities and local officials at an event entitled „New Avenues of Polish–Nigerian Cooperation,” reporters were told. 

While in Africa, the Polish head of state is set to discuss energy security, the food crisis and ways to counter Russian imperialism, according to officials. 

Combating Russian propaganda

As the president departed for Africa on Monday night, his top foreign-policy aide, Jakub Kumoch, told a news briefing: “President Duda’s visit to Africa is a bid to counteract Russian propaganda when it comes to the food crisis, which has been caused by Russia.” 

He added: “We also want to listen closely to what Africa has to say, because it is Africa that may be the biggest victim of what Russia is doing at the moment.”  

“Discussions will also focus on economic interests, in particular the issue of raw materials,” the aide said.

Monday was day 194 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm)

Source: PAP, prezydent.pl