Peter Mutharika absent from Russia-Africa summit
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Nyasa Times
Malawian President Peter Mutharika is not attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, which brings together delegations from 48 African countries. Participants are expected to discuss a partnership plan for 2027-2029 and a declaration on the civilian use of artificial intelligence, reports Nyasa Times.
Malawian President Peter Mutharika is not attending the third Russia-Africa summit, which opened on Wednesday at the Kremlin in Moscow and ends on Thursday 29 October. Twenty-two African countries have sent their heads of state, while 48 of the continent’s 54 countries are represented by delegations, according to Russian presidential foreign policy aide Iouri Ouchakov, quoted by Nyasa Times.
The meeting is co-chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Burundian counterpart Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current chairperson of the African Union. Discussions notably cover trade, investment, agriculture, energy, transport, education, technology and humanitarian cooperation. Participants are expected to adopt a Russia-Africa partnership action plan for 2027-2029 and a declaration on the civilian use of artificial intelligence.
Trade between Russia and African countries exceeded $27 billion in 2025, compared with about $16.8 billion in 2019, according to Russian authorities. Malawi’s presence has not been detailed: the government has not said who represents it, what proposals were presented or whether a meeting with Russian officials took place, reports Nyasa Times.
The head of state’s absence comes after several episodes linked to his stays abroad, including the 72 days spent outside Malawi, followed by the postponement of the budget session to prepare the response to El Niño.
