Russia-Africa Summit: Four days of dealmaking the West wanted Africa to skip
Russia-Africa Summit: Four days of dealmaking the West wanted Africa to skip
Russian President Vladimir Putin and African leaders outlined plans to expand trade, strengthen sovereignty, and turn longstanding ties into investment and industrial growth
Delegations from 48 African countries, including 21 leaders, gathered in Moscow this week for the third Russia-Africa Summit under the motto For Peace, Security and Development. The gathering concluded on Thursday with the final declaration, a new cooperation plan and more than 60 agreements signed across the summit and its accompanying Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
Organizers reported over 3,500 participants from 74 countries, including more than 1,200 business representatives from around 630 companies. The signing total excludes confidential commercial documents, Russian presidential adviser Anton Kobyakov said. The forum hosted more than 40 sessions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already held at least nine bilateral meetings with African leaders, including the presidents of Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Kenya, as well as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Libya’s Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed Al-Menfi.
Bilateral talks continued on Friday, with the day’s lineup including the leaders of Sudan, Madagascar, Ghana, Mali, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, DR Congo, and Eritrea, as well as Togo’s prime minister.
The October 28-29 summit capped four days of events, beginning with Monday’s media forum and including Tuesday’s separate gas exporters’ summit. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told RT that Western governments had tried to discourage African leaders from attending.
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack also prompted temporary restrictions at three Moscow airports before Thursday’s proceedings. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported 231 drones destroyed on the approaches to the capital. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the timing during an international gathering and praised air defenses.
Here are the main outcomes and key moments.
A framework through 2029Putin and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the African Union chair, co-chaired Wednesday's and Thursday’s proceedings. Leaders addressed a plenary session in Kremlin before continuing over a working breakfast.
They adopted the Moscow Declaration, a Russia-Africa Partnership Forum action plan for 2027-2029 and a declaration on civilian applications of artificial intelligence.
The political declaration backed greater African representation in international institutions, opposed unlawful unilateral sanctions, and supported efforts to address colonial-era damage. It also called for South Africa’s full G20 participation to be restored, following its exclusion from meetings under the US presidency. Pretoria remains a member.
At their closing press conference, Putin emphasized the potential for further cooperation, while Ndayishimiye pressed for measurable benefits. Another summit will follow, with its date and location to be agreed.
© Sputnik / Yuri Kochetkov / Sputnik / Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian forum host рhoto agency Partnership: ‘Africa has not come to ask for aid’Russia and Africa are natural allies in building a multipolar, genuinely democratic world order, Putin told the plenary. He backed stronger African representation in global decision-making and described Russian businesses as partners investing in host countries rather than pursuing colonial exploitation.
African leaders also stressed that cooperation should strengthen their ability to make independent decisions and develop their economies.
Read more Contrary to what malevolent forces might think, Africa has not come to ask for aid, Ndayishimiye told the Kremlin plenary. He called for commitments to become concrete investment programs and for international cooperation to follow African priorities.
Democratic Republic of Congo President
