African leaders arrive in Moscow for third Russia-Africa summit

Leaders from across the continent have arrived in Moscow for a two-day meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The gathering, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, brings together representatives from 48 African nations to negotiate bilateral cooperation in politics, defense, and technology. This event marks the third iteration of the summit, following previous meetings in 2019 and 2023.

Kremlin presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that 22 heads of state are attending the current session. This number exceeds the 17 leaders present at the 2023 summit but remains below the 43 who attended the inaugural gathering in Sochi. Moscow previously attributed the decline in high-level attendance to pressure from Western nations. Putin is expected to hold individual meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The official agenda focuses on developing mutually beneficial cooperation. More than 40 sessions featuring approximately 100 speakers will address trade, investment, food security, and energy. A business program will conclude with a plenary session where participants aim to adopt a final declaration. The summit will also establish a partnership forum plan covering the period from 2027 to 2029.

Security cooperation is a central topic for delegations from countries with deepening military ties to Russia. The guest list includes leaders from Burkina Faso and Niger, whose nations have expanded Russian security partnerships. Other attendees include Kenya’s William Ruto, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Namibia’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndatiwah, and Sudan’s Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Libya is represented by Presidential Council chairman Mohamed al-Menfi.

An analysis by the African Security Analysis group indicates that Russian influence in Africa has grown more through security operations than through trade. The consultancy counts Russian missions or troops in at least nine African countries, a substantial increase from the few nations hosting forces in 2023. These forces are primarily associated with the Wagner Group.

Economic exchanges between the two regions have expanded over the past decade. Total trade now exceeds $28 billion, up from an estimated $16.8 billion in 2019. Despite this growth, commercial ties remain concentrated in specific sectors and are often dwarfed by trade volumes with China and the European Union. Russia’s strongest economic links involve energy, fertilizers, defense, and nuclear power, with state-owned firm Rosatom signing multiple agreements.

Agricultural exports continue to play a role in the relationship. In 2023, Russia shipped 200,000 tonnes of grain to Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, and Zimbabwe. Russian suppliers provide essential fertilizers and wheat to many nations in the region, supporting food security goals outlined in the summit's official theme.

The summit has drawn attention to the recruitment of African nationals for the war in Ukraine. Amnesty International issued an open letter prior to the event, urging attendees to address the issue. The directors of the organization's African section called on leaders to demand that Moscow end what they describe as deceptive and coercive recruitment practices. This diplomatic friction has already created concerns in countries such as Kenya.