Russia and African nations have agreed on a joint action plan until 2029 to expand economic, trade, social, and humanitarian cooperation. The plan aims to implement the outcomes of the third Russia-Africa Summit held in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the adoption of the plan, which includes a wide range of tasks to develop relations with African countries and implement summit decisions.
The Russia-Africa Summit has become a established tradition, reflecting the parties' willingness to continue developing relations in a spirit of genuine partnership and mutual respect. Putin made these remarks during a joint press conference with Burundian President and current African Union Chairman. The summit saw the adoption of three key documents: a closing statement, a statement on cooperation in the civil use of artificial intelligence technologies, and a 2027-2029 action plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
The action plan was signed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yousuf. A separate plan for cooperation between Russia and the African Union Commission for the same period was also signed, covering 19 areas, including security, technology, energy, agriculture, and investment. These documents reflect a commitment to framing Russian-African cooperation within specific timeframes, expanding partnership areas, and enhancing coordination on shared issues.
On the economic front, Putin stated that trade between Russia and African countries stands at approximately $27 billion, which he believes does not reflect the full potential of their commercial relations. He expressed confidence in increasing trade, citing Moscow's readiness to work with African partners to remove trade barriers and expand Russian exports of industrial products, machinery, equipment, fertilizers, and agricultural products to African markets.
Putin highlighted that Russian investments in Africa amount to tens of billions of dollars, with significant potential for new projects that could develop productive sectors and enhance shared economic interests. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture, noting that Russia exported 13 million tons of grain to African countries in the first nine months of 2026, and over 2.2 million tons of mineral fertilizers to the continent this year.
Russia and Africa share a common vision of building a multipolar world order based on respect for national sovereignty and the rejection of diktats. Putin reiterated Moscow's support for a more just representation of the African continent in the UN Security Council, emphasizing that enhancing Africa's presence in international institutions is crucial to building a more balanced global system.
Algeria's strategic partnership with Russia was also highlighted, with Putin praising the strong bilateral ties and close positions on regional and international issues. This underscores the continued coordination between the two countries on global matters, including Algeria's support for the Russian-African partnership and its commitment to international legitimacy and the principles of national sovereignty.
Key points
- The joint action plan aims to enhance economic, trade, social, and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and African countries until 2029.
