Moscow will host the third Russia-Africa Summit this week, with President Vladimir Putin and African leaders aiming to deepen economic, security and humanitarian ties. The summit starts Wednesday and runs two days, alongside the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
Organizers expect a joint declaration and a new action plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum covering 2027-2029. They also expect a package of intergovernmental agreements and commercial contracts to be signed.
The October 28 program is set for the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Centre, with more than 2,000 guests expected. The theme is “For Peace, Security, and Development.” Priority topics include trade and investment, peaceful nuclear energy, independent payment systems, food security and digital adoption, including artificial intelligence.
Putin will hold his customary meeting with leaders of Africa’s regional integration bodies, plus bilateral talks with individual leaders. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will host a working breakfast for African foreign ministers the same day.
Read More:The Insidious UAE–Russian Mercenaries Ties in Africa
The forum’s business program runs about 40 panel sessions across four tracks: sovereignty as the foundation of sustainable development, the economy of a sovereign world order, social and humanitarian cooperation, and technology and innovation.
Panels will cover industry, technology transfer, energy, healthcare, education and mining. A youth forum will run October 28-29, and a media forum is also planned.
The Thursday plenary session will be co-chaired by Putin and the African Union’s current chair, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye. A joint news conference and the signing ceremony will follow.
Organizers are hoping for it to be the largest event in Russian-African relations. Russian trade with the continent depends on diversifying its exports and on international financing channels to support deals.
Transport and infrastructure barriers, including a lack of financing and country-specific risks are also a challenge in the way of materializing mutual political goodwill. African countries , structurally disadvantaged as they are, look for trustworthy and stable investments which Russia, for its Ukraine front, might not be able to offer at the moment.
