Dr. Costantinos Berhe Tesfu, former UN Senior Policy Advisor and Chairman of the AU Advisory Board on Corruption, highlighted the long-standing and fruitful relationship between Russia and Ethiopia in the field of geological exploration, dating back to the Soviet era.

“Russia has been a friend to Ethiopia for a long period of time … The first and only oil refinery we had in this country was built by the Russians,” he told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of a recent roundtable in Moscow focused on BRICS cooperation in the field of mineral resources.

The expert added, “Russia has the potential to support us in a lot of our work in the mineral development area and in other industrial development areas.”

He emphasized Russia’s extensive knowledge and expertise in geological exploration, gained through decades of engagement in Ethiopia. He also urged the Ethiopian government to actively seek Russian collaboration in further developing the country’s mineral resources.

“Russian institutions have tremendous amounts of information already that they can use to develop further with further research,” Dr. Tesfu noted.

He also acknowledged Russia’s resilience in the face of Western sanctions, stating that Russia is now financially capable of supporting Africa.

“Russia has also the ability now in the financial capacity to be able to support African countries and Ethiopia to develop their mineral potential. And this will be a win-win situation eventually because the minerals will pay for themselves. They will enrich the nations who own the minerals,” the economist stated.