World
Victory Day in Moscow, Russia-Africa Relations
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Russian President Vladimir Putin invited 29 world leaders to witness the main military parade at Moscow’s Red Square, and used the high-level occasion to review Russia’s diplomatic priorities with African leaders. The African leaders came from Burkina Faso, Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau and Zimbabwe.
By taking part in the Victory Parade in Moscow, the African leaders had the unique chance to review their bilateral relations with the Kremlin, and at least, as part of a broader effort to celebrate their bilateral relations built down these years. Their presence in Moscow showcased the irreversible dynamism, political symbolism and rapidly evolving character of contemporary multifaceted ties, especially during this heightening and deepening of the current world’s geopolitical situation.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are undergoing economic resuscitation, transforming their system of state management and governance, projects financing and production. Burkina Faso has nationalized its natural resources by expelling the France and other western corporate miners. Mali instead have bartered its resources in exchanged for Russia’s military-technical cooperation within an agreement signed in 2023.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, currently run by military governments that have taken power in coups between 2021 and 2022, have a set of common goals to achieve after removal of their elected governments, accusing them of deep-seated corruption and further the exploitative character of western powers through manipulation.
Concretely the main objectives include reaffirming and securing their regional peace, with narratives pointed at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under-performance in this sphere of maintaining security.
In the context of shifting global powers, this regional bloc has to undergo serious restructuring and reforms. The French-speaking members – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – and now with Chad, Senegal and Togo threatening to withdraw and join the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The region is still engulfed with widespread terrorism and violent extremism.That however, the Sahelian States seek to protect their individual political sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Nevertheless, Russia’s growing relations with Alliance of Sahelian States (AES), consisting Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger also provides boundless potential opportunity to recalibrate their foreign policy away from western colonizers. These French-speaking States are strategically collaborating with Russia, and opting for military support within military-technical agreement. The bilateral agreements, a kind of bartering natural resources in exchange for military equipment and modern weaponry to help in enduring the capacity for fighting frequent Islamic attacks and countering terrorism in the region.
The Sahelian leaders appreciated the transformation change and the groundbreaking reality, as Russia is tremendously supporting to raise awareness of the political and economic status, offered them humanitarian packages. Several bilateral agreements have been signed to engage in accelerating economic and trade initiatives, and beyond. On their part, African leaders have also been identifying, monitoring, analyzing strategic threats that may hinder Russian initiatives in Africa. It is in recognition of Russia as a trusted and reliable partner.
Burkina Faso signed a Memorandum of Understanding on nuclear energy with the State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) during the Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg in July 2023. Russia is teaming up with Mali and Niger to exploit their natural resources for undertaking development projects in their respective countries. Quite essentially, the bilateral agreements signed between Mali and Niger are directed at engaging in development their infrastructure which Russia has expressed strong interest to support, and has also despatched military troops to ensure peace and stability.
Central African Republic (CAR) leader, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, has enjoy tremendous support from the Kremlin. There are estimated 2,500 Russian instructors working there, according to local Russian media reports. Russia is constructing the city’s highways, rehabilitating educational building and exploiting the country’s mineral resources to improve living standards of the estimated 5.6 million.
Despite its significant mineral deposits and other resources, such as uranium reserves, crude oil, gold, diamonds, cobalt, lumber, and hydropower, as well as significant quantities of arable land, the Central African Republic is among the ten poorest countries in the world.
Over the years, Russia and the Republic of Congo have had good bilateral relations and, undoubtedly, there are still prospects for strengthening these relations. At this point, highlighting Russia-Congo partnerships have its own perspectives. Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Sassou-Nguesso, in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, assertively referred to good potential in several industries, such as energy, the processing industry and agriculture.
Leading Russian companies, including LUKOIL and Yandex, operate effectively in the Congo. Rosatom plans to launch a number of large projects, especially those necessary for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Congo has become the fourth largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea, and in 2018, the Republic of the Congo joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
As significant part of the geopolitics and first-class display of diplomatic symbolism for Russia-Africa relations, President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, was invited as one of the African guests celebrating the Victory Day. Teodoro Obiang Nguema also been visiting Moscow.
He was at the Russian Energy Week 2024 and invited Russian investors to take interest in Africa’s natural resource extraction. Such partnerships should not be limited to the production of resources but should include knowledge transfer, technological training, and the promotion of modern energy infrastructure development. Equatorial Guinean leader, however, explained that Africa exists in an era of major changes and challenges.
Equatorial Guinea, believes that energy cooperation should be guided by a fundamental principle: to ensure the stability of energy markets, protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population from market volatility. Energy should not be a weapon, but as a means to achieve common prosperity. The collective responsibility is to ensure that the least developed countries are safely protected from fluctuations in energy prices and are not excluded from the benefits of energy and advanced technology.
Russia’s bilateral relations with Egypt and Ethiopia, has now transcended into a broader partnership in BRICS, the alliance of major developing countries. BRICS, as a multilateral economic and development-oriented cooperation platform, is at the forefront transforming world politics.
Therefore, Egypt and Ethiopia’s presence in Moscow during the May Day celebrations portrayed, in principle, an inevitable victory over western hegemony. Egypt and Ethiopia, and together with Russia, the position of the three resonates as a key collective player in shaping the emerging the world order. It could not have to be understated – Russia, Egypt and Ethiopia have shared strategic ambitions in this contemporary world.
Russia and Guinea-Bissau has had an excellent evolving relations now. President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has visited four times, the lastest was on on February 26, 2025. Embalo participated in the first (2019) and second (2023) Russia-Africa Summits, respectively in southern city of Sochi and cultural capital, St. Petersburg.
On 9th May 2024, Guinea Bissau leader Embalo was one of the special guests to the May Day celebrations at the Red Square and earlier as part of the team to discuss peace initiatives with the Kremlin. That May Day celebrations, Putin stressed that “Africa is now building up capacity and aspires to emerging as an effective powerhouse in a multipolar world with its unique identity by making confident strides in nurturing a genuine sense of political and economic sovereignty.”
It is necessary to remind here that Russia and Guinea-Bissau have previously signed various agreements to bolster trade, economic cooperation and military-technical sphere, and beyond that created working groups on developing and subsequent implementation of programmes and projects particularly in Guinea-Bissau. “There is strong potential and promising opportunities in these areas, as many Russian companies are showing increasing interest in working in the Guinea-Bissauan market,” according to Putin.
Reports indicate that over 70 percent of Guinea-Bissau’s servicemen and civilian officials were trained in the Soviet Union and continued under Russia. Moreover, Russia has increased the quota for Guinea-Bissauan friends for the current year, 2025/26. With population approximately 1.8 million people, Guinea-Bissau faces challenges of ensuring security and more than two-thirds lives below the poverty line. Sharing borders with Guinea (to southeast), Gambia and Senegal (to the north), Guinea-Bissau attained its independence in September 1973.
In terms of Zimbabwe, much has been done. The greatest is Russia involvement in the US$3 billion Darwendale platinum mining project in the sun-scorched location, about 50 km northwest of Harare, the Zimbabwean capital. On 6th March 2025, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amon Murwira, signed comprehensive bilateral agreements, including strengthening trade and economic cooperation.
Additional steps that were agreed upon to identify promising areas for joint engagement, particularly in geological exploration, mineral resource development, nuclear energy, agriculture, space technology, and information and communications technologies. In addition, Russia allocated 125 scholarships for Zimbabwean citizens to study at Russian universities.
The Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko, headed a group of Russian senators went on a reciprocal inter-parliamentary visit to Harare. The delegation delivered a wonderful humanitarian aid to the Angels of Hope Foundation ran by the First Lady, Auxilia Mnangagwa in Harare.
In 2023, President Vladimir Putin despatched tonnes of grains (wheat) under ‘supply at no-cost’ to the people of Zimbabwe. Besides Zimbabwe, other African countries – Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Mali, Somalia and Kenya benefited from this humanitarian aid to these African countries. (For further detailed information on this, read the transcript on the Kremlin’s website).
In a quick review, President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed invariable commitment to deepening partnership based on agreements reached during his meetings with President Vladimir Putin, including on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024. Zimbabwe plans to ascend into BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), an informal association which guarantees building an inclusive, a more fairer world especially for developing countries. Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa are members, while Uganda and Nigeria are ‘partner states category’ with BRICS. Notwithstanding that, Algeria last year opted to become a share-holder in BRICS Bank, which was established in 2015.
Down the years, African leaders have emphasized the critical importance of delivering factual historical information about the tremendous role of the USSR and Russia in defeating fascism to the younger generation of Africans. During those years, the Soviet Union never colonized Africa, but instead supported Africa in their fight against colonialism and for the liberation of the continent and exploitation by western powers. In the era of shifting geopolitical powers, Africa is also struggling against existing forms of neo-colonialism, and this presents the basis for building and strengthening comprehensive interaction between Russia and Africa.
Worth reiterating that Burkina Faso, Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau and Zimbabwe were given, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, the authoritative opportunity in the Honor of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory and the Defenders of the Fatherland. Russia has indicated, several times, its task is to help African peoples rebuild their economies and strengthen their states to prevent future wars. African leaders are reminded of Russia’s assistance in reducing multitude of conflicts in African societies, and weighing in the readiness towards developing a pan-African identity. Without doubts, Russia and Africa share a strong mutual need for speeding up with the creation of a multipolar world.
In conclusion, the significance of their intended interaction, an explicit chance to review the potential opportunities to collaborate in broader economic diversification goals, and possibly forging collaboration through public-private partnerships. Burkina Faso, Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau and Zimbabwe therefore had unique representation here, in the context of 80th anniversary celebrating Victory Day. For now, at least, this exemplifies noticeable ‘friendship and solidarity’ with Africa. In totality, Russia is consistently renewing its thunderous commitment to enhance relations with 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
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