Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda is looking to advance its long-standing diplomatic, trade and security ties with Russia as African and Russian leaders gather for the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, with discussions centred on investment, stability and development cooperation across the continent.
The activities of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum began on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with the participation of Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The meeting has drawn representatives from more than 50 African countries, alongside officials from regional organisations.
For Uganda, the conference provides a multilateral platform to reinforce bilateral relations with Russia that date back to the early years after independence, when Moscow became one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Kampala.
Over the decades, the relationship has expanded to include cooperation in trade, education, defence, energy and technical training.
The second edition of the forum is focusing on economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as efforts to support peace, security and development across Africa.
Delegates are discussing ways to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, energy and infrastructure, alongside shared security concerns, including counter-terrorism and regional stability.
These priorities closely mirror Uganda’s own foreign policy objectives, particularly its push to diversify trade partnerships, expand export markets for agricultural products such as coffee, and strengthen security cooperation in the face of evolving regional threats.
At the opening session, Abdelatty said the meeting offers an important opportunity for African and Russian partners to exchange views on the challenges and opportunities shaping their cooperation.
He later delivered the opening speech of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who expressed pride in the Africa–Russia partnership that gained momentum during Egypt’s presidency of the African Union in 2019 and was formalised through the first Russia–Africa Summit in Sochi.
The Egyptian president said the convening of the ministerial conference reflects the steady development of Africa–Russia relations and builds on the outcomes of the summits held in Sochi in 2019 and Saint Petersburg in 2023.
The meeting is also seen as a key step toward implementing the 2023–2026 action plan of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, while laying the groundwork for the next phase of cooperation covering the 2026–2029 period.
Speaking on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow places special importance on developing partnerships with African countries based on mutual respect and shared benefit.
He said Russia remains committed to supporting Africa in combating terrorism and extremism, addressing food security challenges and responding to serious epidemics.
Ugandan officials following the forum say the discussions are expected to feed into ongoing bilateral engagements with Russia, particularly through existing intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms, as Kampala seeks to balance economic growth, security needs and strategic diplomacy within a rapidly changing global environment.
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