Russia–Africa summit reaffirms political cooperation in Moscow
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senego
The third Russia–Africa summit, held in Moscow on 28 and 29 October 2026, ended with a joint declaration on sovereignty, reform of global governance and African representation on the UN Security Council. The political commitments and announced agreements do not yet establish the economic significance of the rapprochement, according to Senego.
The third Russia–Africa summit, held in Moscow on 28 and 29 October 2026, ended with a joint declaration on state sovereignty, reform of international governance and stronger cooperation, Senego reports. Participants called, among other things, for better African representation on the UN Security Council and opposed unilateral coercive measures.
The African Union has long called for greater African representation at the UN, notably in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. The summit therefore did not mark institutional progress on this issue. According to Senego, however, the gathering of around 20 African leaders allows Moscow to show that it still has partners despite Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin invoked Soviet support for African independence movements to present Russia as a partner to the continent. Senego notes that this account leaves Russia’s imperial history in the shadows and highlights the contradiction between Moscow’s rhetoric on sovereignty and its war against Ukraine.
The joint declaration follows the positions Moscow expressed during the summit. Putin had earlier presented Russia as Africa’s best partner on 28 October. The summit ended after two days of talks in Moscow on 30 October, according to an earlier report by our newsroom.
