World
Uncomfortable Truth: Africa Supports Ukraine’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Undoubtedly, the majority of African countries have consistently supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within the framework of international organisations in the face of Russian military aggression.
Several reports have shown that Africa continues to collaborate with Ukraine through its unwavering support of its territorial integrity at the UN General Assembly against Russia’s invasion. Russia refers to it as a ‘special military operation’ that it began in late February 2022 to denazify and demilitarise its neighbouring former Soviet republic. Soviet republics, including Ukraine, became sovereign and independent after the Soviet collapse in 1991.
In the past couple of years, Ukraine has intensified its political dialogue with African countries. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited a number of African countries and emphasised in discussions the importance of forging bilateral relations and the possibility of establishing extraordinary trade and economic cooperation. Moreover, Ukraine has seriously taken a strategic move to tap into the potential opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is headquartered in the Republic of Ghana. And there is evidence that African countries highly appreciated Ukrainian overwhelming efforts at building and bolstering such ambitious mutual relations on the continent.
With African countries, Maksym Subkh pledged to continue collaborating in economic, educational, and political spheres and has already signed a series of collaborative pacts in Africa. Ukraine and Africa are prioritising collaboration in the economy, agriculture, transportation, industrial equipment, and telecommunication, among other areas. Beyond that, it is strengthening people-to-people ties with civil society organisations and also developing strong grounds for public diplomacy at different levels between Ukraine and Africa.
Under the aegis of the Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, new diplomatic representations were opened across Africa, including those in Ghana, Uganda, and Rwanda. This signals a commitment to mutual understanding and further to fostering closer partnership and enhancing cooperation on various fronts, with the continent’s fastest-growing economies, and optimism for building the future of Ukrainian-African relations. Generally, Ukraine always underscores its readiness to contribute to regional stability and diverse economic development objectives and recognises Africa’s growing importance as a key player in the current geopolitical landscape.
On April 22, the Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subkh, received more copies of credentials from newly appointed ambassadors, including those from Africa. The non-resident ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Ukraine at the residence in Berlin, Stephen Mubiru, noted the positive steps on the way to further strengthening bilateral relations and underlined Uganda’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within the recognised international laws. The Ugandan also informed me about the holding of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.
In the context of the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Maksym Subh expressed his gratitude to Uganda for the participation of the Special Representative of the President of Uganda as part of the African peacekeeping mission that visited Kyiv in June 2023.
Despite its present unpredictable situation, Ukraine still offers agricultural supplies to a number of African countries to ensure their food security. Ukraine’s Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry, in an April briefing report, indicated that over 200,000 metric tonnes of food were sent to Africa under the Grain from Ukraine ogram. According to the ministry, the majority of the recipients are located in East Africa and include Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Kenya has been provided with 25,000 metric tonnes of grain. A series of agreements for increased delivery were considered by the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Eastern Africa Grain Council and the Ukraine’s Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, Ukraine changed agricultural exports geographically against the backdrop of the crisis. Exports to other regions have decreased, with Africa’s share falling to 7% from 14% and that of Asia to 12% from 19%. This was attributed to Russia’s confrontational steps by installing a blockade of Ukrainian seaports, according to reports.
Ukrainian media quoted Volodymyr Zelenskyy as saying that Ukraine was interested in a strategic partnership with African nations. “This should happen in the cultural field, the economic field, and in the field of respect between people without breaching your and our rights or affecting your and our freedom. We respect any country that respects us,” Zelenskyy said.
“We invite our African partners to search for as much common ground as possible, and we feel the readiness of African countries to cooperate with Ukraine more actively,” Ukrainian media quoted a statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal released by the government press service.
As frantic steps to strengthen the development of strategic cooperation with Africa through public-private partnerships, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a discussion during the meeting of the Ukraine-African Union. We can also recall here that African delegates to the second Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg on July 27–28 expressed sadness over Russia’s fierce resistance to renewing the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports to the world.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall, raised this question when the group presented the peace plan in June 2023 in St. Petersburg. That was followed by Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who headed the African Union (from 2022–2023), together with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, who passionately called for an “urgent” restoration of the Black Sea grain deal at that summit in St. Petersburg.
The continental organisation African Union and African States have advocated for peace resolution for the Russia-Ukraine conflict and possibly through dialogue. Russia underestimated the peace initiatives of the African group. It has also rejected the peace initiatives raised by China (a BRICS member). Long before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the BRICS collective declaration called for global peace and development. BRICS has called for resolving conflicting issues through dialogue and negotiations. These questions form significant aspects of its joint communiqués and declarations.
Ukraine has cordial working relations with the continental organisation, the African Union, and with African countries. African countries adhere to issues within international law. African countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity that African leaders have always referenced or quoted in high-level official speeches. It, however, continues to step up its foreign policy in Africa, aiming for a Ukrainian-African renaissance. Ukraine, despite the obstacles and roadblocks, its current war or conflict, whatever (special military operation) conditions perpetuated by neighbouring Russia, has, to a large extent, prioritised Africa in its foreign policy. This has been widely acknowledged by African leaders and the African Union.
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
