World
Practical Ideas of Russian-African Club for Strengthening Russia-Africa Relations
By Gouend Louis
On February 8, the Russian-African Club of MSU named after M.V. Lomonosov held an International Conference: “Development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and African countries.” The event took place at the Faculty of Global Processes of Moscow State University.
The conference was held as part of the implementation of the decisions of the Second Summit and the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which was held on July 27-28, 2023. in St. Petersburg. The event was supported by the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The conference was attended by more than 100 people, representatives of 30 countries of the African continent and Russia. Its participants included Russian and African diplomats, government and public figures, leaders of African diasporas, activists of non-governmental and youth organizations, Africanists, representatives of the film industry, mass communications, sports, culture and education.
The conference was opened by Ilya Vyacheslavovich Ilyin, Dean of the Faculty of Global Processes at Moscow State University, Chairman of the Russian UNESCO Committee for the program “Management of Social Transformations (MOST)”, First Vice-President of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov. He congratulated those gathered on the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences and conveyed greetings from the President of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, academician, rector of Moscow State University Viktor Antonovich Sadovnichy. Ilyin I.V. noted the successful work of the club and expressed confidence that during the conference practical proposals will be developed that will be sent to the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. The dean set the businesslike tone of the conference and was the first to put forward a practical proposal for the creation of an International Movement of University Ambassadors (UMA). In his opinion, the establishment of the MDUA would be especially relevant in light of the upcoming World Youth Festival in Sochi in March this year.
In the welcoming speech of the Chairman of the Council of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, head of the secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Oleg Borisovich Ozerov, notes the following. “In recent years, African countries have demonstrated a steadily growing interest in learning the Russian language and subsequently obtaining specialized, technical and higher education in Russian civilian and military educational institutions.”
The Executive Secretary of the Russian Federation Commission for UNESCO, Tatyana Evgenievna Dovgalenko, addressed the conference with greetings. She thanked the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University for its work on cooperation with African countries and spoke about key UNESCO projects carried out in African countries.
His Royal Highness, Member of the South African Parliament Zolani Mkiva, famous African poet, recognized artist, and cultural activist, noted the special importance of the conference theme. He recalled the historically friendly ties between Russia and African countries and also emphasized the need to build relations between peoples based on cultural programs.
Speaking on the topic of Russian-African cooperation in the field of science and education, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Copperbelt University in Zambia, Professor Paul Chisale noted that Russia is an advanced country with enormous technological, scientific, and educational potential. Africa can learn a lot from cooperation with Russia. These are joint scientific projects and exchanges between teachers and students.
Director of Public Relations of the Office of Presidential and National Scholarships of the President and Cabinet of Zimbabwe, Rachel Nyaray Chitate, expressed the hope that Russia and Africa will work together to forge the future. The expert noted that the strengths of our countries are complementary. As an example, she cited an area of science where the great scientific school of Russia could rely on young scientific personnel from the African continent.
Experts in the field of military education in Russia – head of the department of the Research Institute of Military History, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Andrey Evgenievich Shagov, as well as a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, head of the department of the Research Institute of Military History, Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Alexey Kuznetsov Andreevich, spoke about the importance of training scientific military personnel for African countries.
The conference also discussed the issue of practical activities in the field of preservation, restoration and protection of cultural property of Russia and Africa. An expert of the Council for the Security of Cultural Property of ICOM Russia, Sergei Antonovich Uzyanov, stated that during conflicts and disasters, thefts and illegal movement of cultural property occur. The most valuable artefacts of the national heritage are being auctioned on the Internet. The speaker spoke about the unique technology for the security marking of cultural property, developed based on the 18th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Vanyukova Daria Vladimirovna, a researcher at the State Museum of Oriental Art and Monastyreva Galli Germanovna, adviser on humanitarian issues of the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries, spoke about the experience of implementing museum, cultural and educational projects in Africa using the example of Mali. The speakers called for expanding the geography of humanitarian cooperation in Africa and expanding educational projects to all countries of the continent.
Pan-Africanist, sports commentator for the online media “Civic Network”, President of the Chadian Futsal Federation, Vice-President of the Central African Branch for Relations with the African Sports Organization Mahamat Issaha Sogar, as well as Secretary General of the Cameroon Students’ Association Kamdem Motcheyo Tedi and Mohamed Selim, Managing Director East Step Tourism companies in Egypt offered their humanitarian projects to expand cooperation in the field of sports, tourism, joint festivals and sports and recreational events.
The President of the ANO Center for Business and Cultural Cooperation with African Countries, Vladimir Anatolyevich Bagrov, spoke on the issue of cooperation in the field of cinema. He spoke about the film industry of African countries and noted the high prospects for cooperation in this area. Film director and producer Dr Nyengo Stevens from Cameroon suggested using cinema as a tool of cultural diplomacy, holding joint film festivals, and signing corporate agreements between film producers and companies to be able to create high-quality products for a global audience.
Head of the Department of Global Social Processes and Work with Youth of the Faculty of Global Processes of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Natalya Leonovna Smakotina proposed conducting special educational programs on working with youth aimed at friendship and cooperation. Program director of the Russian-African Club, and associate professor of Moscow State University Ilya Leonidovich Shershnev supported the idea and proposed developing a curriculum and creating advanced training courses for the implementation of humanitarian projects and public diplomacy programs between Russia and African countries.
The founding president of the Black African Defense League, Eguchi Behanzin, is convinced that Africa’s education sector has been expropriated by the West, especially the United States. Through their educational projects, they influence the minds of African youth. According to the speaker, the traditions of Russian education are excellent, and African youth dream of having access to this knowledge. The speaker thanked Russia for scholarships for African students. He also expressed hope that Russia will help in training teaching staff for Africa.
The President of the Dogon Youth Movement “Jinna Dogon” in Mali, Bokari Guindo, proposed developing cooperation between museums in African and Russian countries. The speaker also noted that there is huge potential for the development of tourist flow between our countries.
Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosova, professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Education Elena Leonidovna Vartanova, together with the deputy dean of the Faculty of Journalism for International Cooperation Anna Aleksandrovna Gladkova and the leading researcher of the Faculty of Journalism, associate professor of the Russian Academy of Education Dunas Denis Vladimirovich, presented a presentation on the topic “The image of Africa in the Russian media: conflictological aspect.” In the course of the study, scientists concluded that mentioning conflict issues does not prevent the Russian media from addressing Africa as a region that has enormous potential, strengthening relations with which contributes to Russia’s national interests.
Managing Director of the Analytical Center for Afrocentrism from Togo, Dr Amasso Yves Ekoué, noted the importance of developing video content as the most attractive to young people and that Russia’s chairmanship of BRICS should be used to promote joint initiatives and expand cooperation.
Director and founder of the pan-African magazine “Those Who Make Africa” Aldo Newman noted that for mutual penetration of the media spheres of Russia and Africa, it is necessary to launch channels broadcasting in the languages of the peoples of our countries and we need to rely more on local media that have authority among the population, to promote the Russian vision of current events and the values common to our countries.
Gouand Louis, President of the Diaspora of the Republic of Cameroon in the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Commission for Work with African Diasporas and Public Relations of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov spoke about the media project of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University, the information platform Rusafromedia (https://rusafromedia.ru/), uniting Russian and African journalists. He invited participants to register on this resource and more actively publish their materials there and exchange relevant information from the life of the Russian-African partnership.
In conclusion, the executive secretary of the club, Alexander Fedorovich Berdnikov, highlighted the main directions in which the work of the Club will continue. All proposals will be included in the final document of the conference and will be transferred to government agencies that are working on Russian-African cooperation
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
