Putin Hosts Third Russia-Africa Summit to Expand Global Influence
Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from 48 African nations in Moscow to double trade to $50 billion and challenge Western neocolonialism through a new 2027-2029 action plan.
President Vladimir Putin hosted the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow from October 28 to 30, 2026, gathering delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Moscow Declaration, a partnership action plan for 2027-2029, and over 60 agreements. Putin proposed doubling bilateral trade to surpass $50 billion, urging the adoption of national currencies to avoid Western financial interference and predatory debt.
Co-chaired by Putin and African Union Chairperson Evariste Ndayishimiye, the event focused on nuclear energy, food security, and artificial intelligence. Key outcomes included a nuclear energy memorandum with Togo and a roadmap for Ethiopia's first nuclear plant. Putin positioned Russia as a defender of the Global South, characterizing the era of Western dominance as irrevocably gone and supporting permanent African representation on the UN Security Council.
Despite the diplomatic push, the summit faced challenges. Attendance declined compared to 2019, with major economies like Nigeria and South Africa sending lower-level delegations. Amnesty International and other critics highlighted the forced recruitment of thousands of African nationals into the Russian military for the war in Ukraine. Russia continues to expand its military footprint via the Africa Corps paramilitary force in the Sahel, Central African Republic, and Libya, while facing accusations of human rights abuses in Mali.
