Whether this launched him into an ad hoc debate with a Cameroonian oppositionist at an agricultural show in Paris or a frosty encounter with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the role of Moscow's mercenaries in Africa Macron showed a grasp and interest in Africa policy that few of his predecessors could match let alone his peers in other western governments...

This dependence has played to the advantage of Hemeti who met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on the eve of the Ukraine invasion saying that Russia has 'the right to protect its people' and backing Russia's bid to build a naval base in Port Sudan (AC Vol 63 No 6 The junta runs out of bread and road)...

On the eve of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine Gen Hemeti met with senior Russian officials including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin...

Diop's Moscow trip comes as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday 12 November to discuss Paris's worries about Russia's intentions in the Sahel and other issues...

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi told her Moscow counterpart Sergei Lavrov in July that her country's yet-to-be-formed parliament would have to consider plans for Russia to build a naval base in Port Sudan before the government could give final approval...

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called it 'good news' but he said the ceasefire would have to be backed by verification...

Morocco is careful to keep Moscow on side too and the same day that Pompeo's visit was confirmed Bourita held a long call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov which took in the 'Moroccan Sahara'...

Serraj visited Russia on 2-3 March and while he didn't meet Putin Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow had been 'maintaining contacts with all parties to the intra-Libyan political process' launched at Skhirat in Morocco in December 2015...