Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has appointed senior senator Mikhail Margelov special presidential envoy for cooperation with Africa, the Kremlin said on Monday.
Margelov heads the State Duma's foreign relations committee and has held the post of presidential envoy to Sudan since 2008.
Ties between Russia and Africa have grown in recent years, with Medvedev visiting Nigeria, Angola and Namibia in June 2009.
Alexey Vasilyev, who held the position of special presidential envoy for relations with leaders of African states, was relieved of his duties.
MOSCOW, March 21 (RIA Novosti)
