Putin courts African leaders at Moscow summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin told African leaders in Moscow that Russia is their best partner and accused the West of exploiting the continent's resources and using debt to hold back growth. The two-day third Russia-Africa Summit, which opened on Wednesday 28 Oct, drew delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state. Putin plans one-to-one talks with most attending leaders on trade, security, arms and grain. Putin said Russian firms want to build manufacturing plants in Africa to bypass Western sanctions, and cited 2025 trade of $27 billion, down 2.4 % from 2024. Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, current African Union chair, co-chairs the summit.
Key facts
- Russia-Egypt trade reached $10.5 billion in 2025, more than double the 2021 level, led by Russian grain.
- Russia is building a large nuclear power plant at El-Dabaa on Egypt's Mediterranean coast.
- Russia has opened eight new embassies in Africa since 2023, bringing its total to 48.
- Putin called for Africa to have a stronger role at the IMF and World Bank Group.
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Why it matters
Russia is seeking deeper economic and security ties with African states while under heavy Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine.
What changed
First published from DW, Dawn, Africanews, allAfrica and Anadolu Agency