President Vladimir Putin opened a two-day Russia-Africa summit in Moscow on Wednesday, telling leaders from nearly two dozen African countries that Moscow stands with them against Western dominance.
The Kremlin described the participating nations as “natural allies” in building a multipolar world. Putin said that shift was already underway and could not be reversed.
“The era when the fate of entire continents was determined by a narrow bloc of states is irrevocably gone,” Putin said at the Russia-Africa economic forum, which preceded the leaders’ summit.
The summit, the third since 2019, comes as Russia faces heavy Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine.
Moscow has deepened security ties with several African governments, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where leaders have turned away from former colonial power France.
Grain, Medicine, and Students
Putin told delegates from 48 African countries that Russia would expand agricultural shipments to the continent.
The pledge comes as Black Sea attacks linked to the Ukraine conflict disrupt grain exports from both Russia and Ukraine.
He also announced plans to localise production of Russian medicines and vaccines in Africa. The number of African students in Russia has grown by 50% since 2020, he said.
“We are open to sharing our modern competencies and high-tech digital know-how with our African friends,” Putin said.
Rights Groups Sound Alarm
Amnesty International used the summit to raise a darker issue. In an open letter published Tuesday, the rights group expressed “deep concern regarding Russia’s forced and deceptive recruitment” of Africans into its military.
Several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, have publicly raised alarm about their citizens being recruited by Moscow to fight in Ukraine.
The summit is expected to end Thursday with a declaration on deepening cooperation and a separate statement on artificial intelligence.
The Kremlin said 33 documents would be signed, focused mainly on economic ties.
