Poutine proposes autonomy-based partnership to Africa
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Presse de Tunisie
Vladimir Poutine proposed a partnership with African countries based on co-development, autonomy and breaking with colonial relations. The Russian president also called for direct air links and payments in national currencies at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, according to La Presse de Tunisie.
Russian President Vladimir Poutine proposed on Wednesday that African countries establish a partnership based on autonomy, co-development and the use of financial mechanisms outside Western systems. Chairing the plenary session of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, he called on African leaders to “define their own” destiny and break with “the inherited world order and the colonial past”, according to La Presse de Tunisie.
Vladimir Poutine invited African airlines to open direct routes to Russia, saying they would promote trade and tourism. He also advocated sustainable payments in national currencies, more correspondent banking relationships between Russian and African banks, and alternative mechanisms for transferring funds.
Russia is carrying out programmes with several African countries that use debt-related funds to finance national growth projects, including 30 energy projects in 16 countries, the Russian president said. Moscow also says it is ready to share technologies for responsible water resource management.
On food, Vladimir Poutine said Russia had exported 13 million tonnes of agricultural products to Africa in the first nine months of 2026. More than 40 African states are already receiving Russian grain and fertilisers, he said. The summit brings together more than 22 African heads of state and leaders and has been held every three years since 2019. It follows the announced preparations for the meeting, with forty-eight African countries expected at the Russia-Africa Summit.
