Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday promised Moscow’s “total support” for Africa, at a conference with African officials in Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi. “Our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors,” Putin said in a speech read out by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to other foreign ministers and senior officials. Putin said Russia could help countries with “sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters.” The conference takin…