Africa-Press – Mozambique. A high-level ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum will soon be held in Cairo—the first such meeting to take place on the African continent. Foreign ministers and senior representatives from Russia and African nations will gather in the Egyptian capital to review the current state of bilateral relations and outline future cooperation priorities. The decision to host the event in Africa follows an agreement reached during the inaugural forum held in Sochi in 2024.
The Russia–Africa Partnership Forum was established in 2019 and has since convened two summits: the first in Sochi that same year and the second in Saint Petersburg in 2023. In addition to these summits, regular sectoral meetings have addressed cooperation in areas such as trade, security, energy, education, and health. The upcoming Cairo meeting underscores Russia’s continued diplomatic engagement with the continent and its support for African-led initiatives.
Russia emphasizes its historical support for African independence movements during the Soviet era, particularly its role in advancing the 1960 UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. While ties weakened after the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, Moscow has actively worked to rebuild relations in recent years. Russian officials stress that the partnership is based on mutual respect, with no history of colonial exploitation, and aligns with Africa’s current drive for full sovereignty and multipolarity in global affairs.
Economic cooperation has grown significantly, with Russia-Africa trade exceeding $27 billion in 2024—more than 1.5 times the 2019 level. Moscow is expanding its diplomatic presence across the continent, having opened new embassies in Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, with missions planned for The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros. Russia is also deepening collaboration with the African Union and supports African integration efforts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area. Bilateral intergovernmental commissions—19 of which are already active—aim to further boost trade and investment, particularly through settlements in national currencies.
Beyond economics, Russia is strengthening cooperation in education, agriculture, health, and security. Over 32,000 African students are currently enrolled in Russian universities, and scholarship allocations for African countries have nearly tripled since 2020. Russia has provided humanitarian aid, including wheat and fertilizers, while also assisting African states in developing their agricultural sectors. As a permanent UN Security Council member, Russia says it supports “African solutions to African problems” and contributes to counterterrorism and peacekeeping efforts. The Cairo meeting is expected to set the stage for the third Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled for 2026.
