The third Russia-Africa summit is scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28-29, with a focus on strengthening ties between Russia and African countries. Russian Ambassador to Mali, Igor Gromyko, has announced that the summit will cover six key areas, including sovereignty and international policy, economy, trade, and investments, technology, energy, and innovation, education, science, and humanitarian cooperation, media and information, and youth cooperation.
Ambassador Gromyko expressed his satisfaction with the quality of relations between Russia and Mali, which are based on deep historical roots. He noted that the official visit of Malian Transitional President, General Assimi Goïta, to Russia in June 2025, marked a significant milestone in the two countries' relations. During the visit, a legal and conventional framework for their relations was signed in Moscow.
The framework includes agreements on the foundations of relations between Russia and Mali, the creation of a Russian-Malian intergovernmental commission on commercial, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation, and cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. Ambassador Gromyko revealed that the intergovernmental commission has enabled the two countries to sign political agreements, with the first session held in Bamako on July 29, 2025, and the second session taking place in Kazan in May 2026.
The Russian ambassador announced that his country plans to actively develop political dialogue and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Mali in commercial, economic, and humanitarian fields. In the education sector, Russia is supporting Mali through the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with 300 Malian students enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year, and a similar number for the 2026-2027 academic year.
In addition to the summit, a Russia-Africa youth forum is scheduled to take place, which will provide a platform for young people from Russia and Africa to engage in dialogue and explore opportunities for cooperation. Ambassador Gromyko's remarks highlight the growing importance of Russia's relations with Mali and Africa, as the continent continues to play a significant role in global affairs.
The third Russia-Africa summit is expected to provide a boost to Russia's relations with Mali and other African countries, as the continent seeks to diversify its partnerships and strengthen its economic and political ties with other regions. The summit will also provide an opportunity for Russia to promote its interests and values in Africa, and to explore new areas of cooperation with the continent.
Key points
- Russia and Mali are set to strengthen their ties in various fields, including economy, trade, and investments, technology, energy, and innovation.
