World
Africa Consoles Russia, Hopes for Increased Economic Cooperation
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Russia is never as isolated as many external countries think. It has non-Western friends, especially in Africa, which constitutes part of the Global South. And there is a growing political sentiment and understanding among the majority of its African allies that the United States, members of the European Union, and Ukraine are allegedly behind the terrorist attacks against Russia due to its special military operation in Ukraine.
There have been so many interpretations and analyses around the world. Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the incident a terrorist attack. The Islamic State—Khorasan Province (IS-KP or ISIS-K), a South-Central Asia-based regional affiliate of the Islamic State, claimed responsibility. But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said at a weekly media briefing with reporters that it was “extremely hard to believe” that Islamic State would have had the capacity to launch an attack on a Moscow concert hall on March 22 that killed at least 140 people.
Popularly referred to as Crocus City Hall, it is a music venue located in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast (north-west of central Moscow, close to the Moscow Ring Road). The venue was opened by the businessman Aras Agalarov on October 25, 2009. On March 22, 2024, it was severely damaged by an explosion during a major terrorist attack that killed more than 140 people. Since March 22, African leaders have poured in messages of condolences to the Russian leadership and the entire Russian people.
The concert hall is a part of Crocus City, comprising the Crocus City Mall, Crocus Expo, and Vegas City Hall, along with various hotels and restaurants. It is one of the largest in the area. It is part of a larger block of shopping centres, restaurants, and other attractions called Crocus City.
On March 28, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, expressed his deep condolences and feelings of solidarity over the terrorist attack in Moscow. Beside that, however, both leaders also expressed satisfaction with the current level of strategic partnership between their countries and further discussed issues of practical trade, economics, energy, and humanitarian cooperation.
Speaking in the context of the BRICS Chairmanship, which Russia has taken over since January 2024 from South Africa, they discussed interaction within the group in its new expanded format. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joined BRICS as new full members, which is a strong indication of the growing authority of the association and its role in international affairs.
In light of the peace initiative advanced by African states to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Ramaphosa briefed Vladimir Putin on South Africa’s intention to continue working in this area with due regard for Russia’s legitimate interests. Putin, in turn, outlined Russia’s position of principle on developments around Ukraine, noting that Russia had always been open to a serious and substantive discussion of a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict.
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as President of the Russian Federation, noting his great personal contribution to strengthening friendly relations between Russia and Egypt. In January 2024, Egypt became a full-fledged member of the BRICS, always described as an informal association of emerging economies.
It was noted with satisfaction that the multifaceted cooperation between the countries is successfully developing as a strategic partnership, with major mutually beneficial projects underway in various spheres. Current issues on the international agenda were considered, including the situation around Ukraine and in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. Vladimir Putin praised Cairo’s efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
On March 26, the President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland of the Republic of Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, extended his warm solidarity with the Russian people and heartfelt condolences over the numerous victims of the heinous terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.
In discussing the bilateral agenda, the leaders expressed their determination to step up political dialogue and develop mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres. They also exchanged views on the developments in the Sahel-Sahara region, with an emphasis on the coordination of security and counterterrorism efforts.
Late March, President Putin has also held phone conversations with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso and with Interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi Goïta at their initiative. Both African leaders resolutely condemned the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue and offered their deep condolences to the people of Russia.
On his part, Putin reassured that he would strengthen Russia-Mali ties in various fields, including the implementation of joint projects in the energy, agriculture, and mining sectors. Assimi Goïta expressed special gratitude for the deliveries of Russian wheat, fertiliser, and fuel, free of charge. Putin and Goïta also exchanged opinions in the context of the uneasy situation in the Sahara-Sahel region and agreed to step up practical interaction to counter terrorism.
With Congolese Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who expressed his deep condolences and solidarity with the Russian Federation in connection with the barbaric terrorist attack, Putin reassured him of the implementation of agreements reached following their meeting at St. Petersburg’s Russia-Africa Summit in July 2023.
According to the official transcript, Malian Assimi Goïta and Congolese Sassou-Nguesso did not congratulate President Vladimir Putin for the successful re-election in mid-March, but the Kremlin said the leaders by phone agreed to continue their contacts.
According to historical records, March 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of the Congo. In this context, the presidents reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the further development of active bilateral interaction in political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and other areas.
Congo, with an estimated 5.3 million population and the fourth largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea, is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa, along the Equator. Mali, now under military rule, is soliciting Russia’s military assistance to ensure peace and security in the Saharan-Sahel region. Mali, home to nearly 20 million people, is a landlocked country located on the rivers Senegal and Niger in West Africa.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Accessing the US Dollar in the East Africa region has now been made easier with the expansion of the stablecoin settlement infrastructure of SCRYPT.
This development enables banks, payment providers and corporate treasury teams to move value into and out of the continent in real time.
Businesses paying international suppliers frequently have to convert local currency into USD before purchasing stablecoins for settlement, incurring FX conversions and spreads before any payment is made.
But SCRYPT is eliminating this intermediate conversion by enabling direct settlement corridors for local African currencies into stablecoins.
This development allows businesses to move from local currency to stablecoin settlement in a single licensed transaction, without first sourcing rationed bank dollars, as stablecoins are increasingly becoming settlement infrastructure rather than an investment product.
The expansion adds settlement support across four African currencies: the Kenyan shilling (KES), Tanzanian shilling (TZS), Rwandan franc (RWF) and Ugandan shilling (UGX). Each corridor is delivered through the same full-stack infrastructure our clients already use for trading, custody and treasury operations.
Speaking on this, the chief executive of SCRYPT, Norman Wooding, said, “Across Africa, stablecoin adoption is driven by economic need, not speculation.
“Businesses here are not chasing yield; they are trying to pay suppliers and manage treasury without losing margin to a banking system that rations dollars. Licensed, fair-rate dollar access is the clearest proof of what this infrastructure is for.”
Also commenting, the Managing Director of Markets & Trading at SCRYPT, Mr Gabriel Titopoulos, said, “Until now, reaching stablecoins from local African currencies meant buying scarce dollars and incurring several layers of conversion costs.
“SCRYPT removes this friction. Firms and payment providers can now settle straight from local currencies through live corridors, with local partners.”
World
African Graduates Association Promoting Multifaceted Initiatives With Russian Educational Institutions
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
In preparations for the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for late October 2026, Dr Francois Ngan, deputy chairman of the Union of Associations of African Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities, during an official working visit, has held a consultative meeting with Professor Vladimir Filippov, the President of the Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship (RUDN), and former Minister of Higher Education of Russia, Chairman of the National Commission for Accreditation of Higher Education.
RUDN is an educational institution established in 1960, primarily to provide higher education to Third World students. It has now become a popular multidisciplinary spot for many students, especially from developing countries. The university offers various academic programmes and has research infrastructure that comprises laboratories and interdisciplinary centres. The university is named after the former Congolese leader, Patrice Lumumba.
Dr Francois Ngan and Professor Filippov discussed the importance of the Graduates Association as a continental platform dedicated to strengthening unity, cooperation, and promoting shared progress among African graduates who studied in the former Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation. They also reviewed multifaceted initiatives that could bring together alumni associations from across Africa, whose members obtained education and professional training, and cultural experiences in Soviet and Russian institutions of higher learning.
Professor Filippov expressed optimism in addressing emerging challenges as a result of shifting geopolitical changes, emphasised strategic cooperation in the educational sphere with Africa, in general, and with the Republic of Cameroon, in particular, and further about the integration of African students during their studies in the Russian Federation.
The meeting also touched on academic and scientific work, the possibility of rewriting a scientific thesis, and the official organisation of transferring versions translated into six languages for the library of RUDN. Significant questions relating to Russia’s educational opportunities, collaborations and partnerships involving African countries were thoroughly discussed.
The Union of Associations of African Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities was created under one continental umbrella to promote friendship, for professional networking, to engage in cultural exchange, and with particular emphasis on forging strategic cooperation between Africa and Russia.
World
Russia to Support Industrial Growth, Technological Advancement and Supply Chain Resilience across Africa
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
With the heightening of geopolitical rivalry and competition, a new Russia-Africa working group has emerged as a significant institutional mechanism and plans to focus on facilitating and monitoring strategic investments, industrialisation, and infrastructural development—the Strategic Action Plan 2023-2026—that was outlined during the second Russia-Africa summit, in St.Petersburg, the second largest city in the Russian Federation.
While substantial progress has, largely, lagged on the multidimensional economic front with Africa primarily due to its internal difficulties and the complexity of relations with its former Soviet neighbours, Russian officials believe there still remains huge untapped potential in strengthening bilateral cooperation. As planned, President Vladimir Putin has already signed an executive order that directs Moscow to host the forthcoming third Russia-Africa summit in October 2026.
On June 30, a regular meeting of the Business Council on Africa was held under the chairmanship of the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. It was dedicated to issues of trade, economic and investment cooperation with Africa. The group discussed the current state and prospects for the implementation of policy initiatives with an emphasis on assisting the countries of the continent, strengthening their economic, energy, technological and food sovereignty, as well as training specialists for Africa.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that Russia-Africa relations primarily depend on an understanding of the importance of collective action based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and resolving common tasks. In the past few years, Russia-Africa cooperation has been noticeably strengthening. “We are deepening political dialogues, developing bilateral contacts with African countries, promoting cordial cooperation between ministries and departments, and expanding humanitarian exchanges. We are also continuing the structural diversification of trade partnerships and economic dimensions.”
“Next on the agenda is the launch of diplomatic missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Union of the Comoros,” Lavrov said at a meeting of the Business Council under the Russian foreign minister. Lavrov noted that Russian embassies began operating in three other African countries in 2025: Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. A new Department for Partnership with Africa was also established. According to the top diplomat, “expanding Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent contributes to developing relations.”
There are already 45 Russian embassies operating in Africa. The Russian foreign minister noted that Moscow is quickly rebuilding its presence in African countries, which sharply declined during the collapse of the Soviet Union. “There will be literally four or five countries left where we still need to establish full-fledged embassies, and then, we will have 100 per cent coverage of the entire African continent with our diplomatic presence,” Lavrov emphasised.
After the first summit in October 2019, the Foreign Ministry also created the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. Its main tasks include controlling the roadmap to Africa’s multidimensional cooperation and guiding potential Russian investors to the continent. This also underscored the priority and post-Soviet solidarity Russia currently attaches to its policy towards Africa, within the growing framework of the emerging new architecture of multipolarity in the Global South.
In an interview in June 2026, the director of the Department of Partnership with Africa at the Foreign Ministry, Tatyana Dovgalenko, shared a few insights in the lead-up to the third summit. Furthermore, Dovgalenko explained that Russia would move away from security to concentrate more on economic issues, especially to team up with African colleagues to streamline mechanisms for implementing projects that will ensure food security and agriculture, and help Africa in installing processing facilities to support its self-sufficiency. She also emphasised energy and vital infrastructures, and the third direction was to simultaneously work more coherently with sub-regional organisations.
Over the past few years, bilateral relations have been increasing. There are positive dynamics in trade turnover, estimated at $30 billion. Steps are being taken to build payment systems, preferably in national currencies, while Russia looks to open four more diplomatic offices, bringing the total to 48 across Africa. Russia is currently training 37,000 African students, but only approximately 1/3 on state scholarships in Russia’s educational institutions. “We are ready to share valuable experiences of building a sovereign development model with African partners to achieve self-reliant economic growth based on their own resources and capabilities. Russia aims at creating processing capabilities and localising production, and provides access to advanced technological solutions,” underlined Dovgalenko in her interview with New Eastern Outlook.
For African countries that have endured difficult decades on the path to political independence, it is now important to take full control over the untapped resources, direct income and revenue toward stimulating the national economic sector, rather than paying for the well-being of the Western “golden billion” during this changing geopolitical era, according to Dovgalenko.
According to reports, the forthcoming Russia-Africa summit will have an economic agenda, including the digital economy, technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, investment, and settlements in global trade. Of course, the agenda will also cover Africa’s political aspects. But if African friends bring along any specific ideas, Russia will give them serious attention. In addition, with continuity and consistency, pay increased attention to expanding ties with Africa’s regional integration associations.
Going forward, the focus will be on translating strong trade relations into deeper investment partnerships, fostering technology collaboration, strengthening industrial linkages and contributing towards the shared objectives set by the leadership of both African countries and Russia. At the third summit, the above-mentioned specific initiatives will be further designed. In this regard, the key document, the new action plan for the next three-year period (2027-2029), is intended to reflect dynamic realities in the future relations of Russia and Africa
