Russia hosts African ministers in bid to expand ties

The first ministerial Russia-Africa summit took place in Sochi (Russian Foreign Ministry/AP)

Russia has opened the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in the city of Sochi, seeking to deepen ties with African nations and dispel a notion that it is isolated by Western sanctions.

The conference is billed as building on last summer’s Russia-Africa summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin courted leaders from Africa and offered to expand political and business ties.