Putin Pledges Expanded Energy, Trade, Humanitarian Cooperation with Africa

By Yamikani Simutowe, in Moscow, Russia

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready to share its advanced expertise and high‑tech digital know‑how with African nations.

Putin said Russia’s interest lies in improving Africans’ access to affordable, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, and in helping develop domestic energy markets across the continent, including in areas where Russia possesses unique technologies.

He noted that this work is already under way, with more than 30 promising energy projects being jointly implemented in 16 African countries.

He was speaking at the Plenary Session of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Putin said Russia is one of the most reliable guarantors of food security on the African continent, with more than 40 African countries already receiving Russian fertilisers and grain.

“We stand ready to further expand the geographical reach of our agricultural supplies. In the first nine months of 2026, Russia exported 13 million tonnes of agricultural products to Africa,” he said.

He added that the Forum will pay special attention to the humanitarian component, with a focus on education, healthcare, research, culture and mass media, as well as cooperation between youth and civil society organisations.

Putin observed that these areas align with the objectives and goals the African continent is pursuing in terms of promoting socioeconomic development.

“I am convinced that by working together we can achieve tangible results through specific agreements, business deals and contracts, further strengthening our multifaceted and mutually beneficial ties,” he said.

He noted that since 2020, the number of African students studying in Russia has increased by 50%, while the number of Russian scholarships for African students has almost tripled. A record number of African citizens—around 40,000—are currently studying at Russian universities. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the scholarship quota has been increased to 5,500 places.

He reaffirmed that Russia is interested in further developing and deepening trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation with all African countries in every possible way.

According to Putin, Moscow is deeply involved in efforts to relieve African countries’ financial burdens and ease their debt obligations, including through joint programmes that use debt funds to finance national economic growth projects.

He said Russia has consistently advocated strengthening Africa’s role in governance and key decision‑making within multilateral development institutions—above all, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

“I would like to emphasise that Africa needs solutions that will allow it to dispose of its resources at its own discretion, direct them to urgent needs, and accumulate serious capital and long‑term investment in energy, industry, transport and logistics.

“This would help the continent finally throw off the shackles of the colonial legacy and secure the political, social and economic stability of African countries, as well as genuine national sovereignty in all its manifestations,” he explained.

He said Moscow will continue supporting African countries in promoting healthy lives by localising the production of effective treatments and vaccines, setting up laboratories and diagnostic centres, and introducing and adapting digital healthcare platforms tailored to local contexts.

This programme, he said, has proved effective, prompting Russia to extend it until 2029.

He noted that Russian doctors have been selfless in helping Africans counter dangerous infections, including cholera and the outbreak of a new Ebola strain earlier this spring.

Held in 2025 in Ethiopia, the first Russia–Africa exercise of rapid‑response teams for sanitary and epidemiological emergencies was a highly valuable experience.

According to the African Development Bank, the average economic growth rate of African countries stands at 4.2 percent—above the global average—and 12 of the world’s 20 fastest‑growing economies are African.

“Trade and economic relations continue to develop steadily. They are hindered neither by the unprecedented restrictions imposed on our country nor by the intense pressure exerted by the West on our partners across the continent. We highly value such a firm and principled position adopted by our African friends.”

He pointed out that over the past few years, mutual trade has grown noticeably. Russian–African trade exceeded US$27 billion last year, compared with US$18 billion in 2022.

“That is significant growth. Of course, it is not enough. I am confident that we will be able to raise this figure still further in the very near future—at least doubling it and comfortably passing the US$50 billion mark,” he said.

Russia is also helping to implement the African Union’s updated comprehensive programme for agricultural development by creating the necessary infrastructure on the continent to achieve food sovereignty and open up promising foreign markets, including Russia, as soon as possible.

He said Russia can also offer African countries comprehensive solutions for establishing reliable logistics routes that will directly boost trade and investment. These include the design, construction and modernisation of railways, roads, shipping routes and transport hubs, as well as equipping them with digital systems for management, tracking and customs clearance.

“Of course, we also invite African airlines to launch flights to Russia, which would further encourage tourism,” he said.

He added that it is essential to continue developing sustainable channels for mutual settlements in national currencies, expand correspondent banking networks between Russian and African banks, facilitate the opening of branches in each other’s countries, and transition to alternative mechanisms for transmitting payment information.

These include the Bank of Russia’s Financial Messaging System and the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which is already operating across Africa and the African Union.

He said these measures will significantly reduce transaction costs, shield settlements from politically biased interference by unfriendly countries, and strengthen the sovereignty of African states, which remain heavily dependent on Western financial systems.

He also expressed hope that, at the end of the Summit discussions, leaders will adopt a plan of action for the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum for 2027–2029.

This framework document will determine the main trajectory of future comprehensive cooperation between Russia and African countries. Its implementation will help further enhance Russian–African ties and promote development across the continent for the well‑being and prosperity of their peoples.