Can Russia turn its Africa strategy into economic power?
Can Russia turn its Africa strategy into economic power?
The third summit showed that Moscow and African countries now view each other as established and important partners, rather than unfamiliar ones
The third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which concluded in Moscow on October 29, was a significant milestone and an opportunity to evaluate Russia’s relationship with Africa seven years after the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi.
First of all, the summit was an important diplomatic achievement. The scale of the event was unprecedented, featuring delegations from 48 African nations, including 20 presidents, seven prime ministers, and three vice presidents. In total, 166 documents were signed during the summit and its accompanying events, comprising 104 agreements and 62 memoranda. The parties also adopted a new declaration and an Action Plan for 2027-2029.
Just as in previous years, the number of leaders who attended the summit was widely discussed. In 2019, 43 African leaders attended the summit in Sochi; in 2023, 17 leaders came to St. Petersburg; and this year, 21 leaders attended the summit in Moscow. The record attendance of the 2019 summit stems from the fact that it served as a foundational moment; over the years, however, Russia-Africa collaboration has become regular.
In this context, the increase in representation this year compared to 2023 may be seen as a positive trend. Although initially there were plans for an African country to host the third summit, eventually the organizers decided in favor of Russia. The idea of hosting an upcoming summit in Africa remains relevant, particularly for strengthening the equality of partnership.
UN Security Council reform, counter-sanctions measures, reparations, and finance Politically speaking, the Moscow summit reaffirmed the continuity of agreements made in previous years. The final declaration key points about reforming the UN Security Council, countering unilateral sanctions, upholding state sovereignty, and addressing the legacy of colonialism.
Several issues received further attention. Notably, the parties supported establishing legal frameworks for assessing and compensating for the colonial damage inflicted by the former metropoles; this aligns with the African Union’s ongoing efforts to advance the reparations agenda. Issues like international justice and the improvement of relations with Eurasian integration groups were also considered.
These developments highlight the growing influence of African states in debates surrounding the reform of international institutions. Expanding Africa’s representation in the UN Security Council, revising approaches to international lending, and enhancing the capacity of developing countries to influence global economic policy have long been priorities for the African Union.
In Moscow, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahamoud Ali Youssouf emphasized the need to reform the international financial architecture and improve Africa’s access to capital markets. He also welcomed the establishment of an African credit rating agency aimed at reducing the continent’s dependence on existing international credit assessment mechanisms.
Read more The role of regional alliancesBeyond bilateral engagement, Russia has continued to strengthen ties with regional and continental organizations in Africa. Memorandums of understanding were signed with the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Action plans were also established with the African Union Commission, the Southern African Development Community, and other entities.
The AU Commission-Russian Federation Action Plan 2027-2029 encompasses 19 areas, including trade, energy, transportation, agriculture, digital technologies, and security. Notably, the document outlines joint research initiatives for the use of AI for early warning systems re
