FACT CHECK – Did Vladimir Putin make disparaging comments about Africa?

A post shared on Facebook claims Russian President Vladimir Putin made disparaging comments about Africa, calling the continent a “cemetery for Africans.”

Verdict: False

There is no evidence to suggest Putin made such comments about Africa.

Fact Check:

Macky Sall, the head of the African Union and president of Senegal, met with Putin in June to discuss food shortages in Africa stemming from Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, according to France 24. According to the outlet, Sall told Putin that Africans are “victims at an economic level” because of the freeze on grain exports.

A widely shared video on Facebook taken from a 2018 episode of the podcast “Drink Champs” claims Putin once made disparaging remarks about Africa and wealthy Africans. The clip features the American rapper David Banner who claims Putin said once that “Africa was a cemetery for Africans.” (RELATED : Do Vladimir Putin’s Disparaging comments about Western Leaders? )

“When an African is rich, his bank account are in Switzerland,” says the Putin quote. He travels to France for treatment. He invests in Germany. He sends his children to Europe for school. For tourism, he travels to Canada and the U.S.A. He will be buried at his home country if he passes away. Africa is a burial ground for Africans. How can a cemetery ever be built ?” The quote is fake. Check Your Fact discovered no reliable news reports that would suggest such remarks by the Russian president. A search of the Kremlin’s website and of Putin’s archived speeches do not generate any results for the alleged quote. There is likewise no credible news reporting that attributes such a quote to the Russian leader.

An internet search reveals the quote has circulated online since at least 2018 but none of the posts clarify where or when Putin made the alleged statement. The quote has been previously debunked by AFP Fact Check, Reuters and Africa Check.

Check Your Fact reached out to Russia Embassy Washington D.C. and received a comment. We will then update the piece if we receive one.