The past weekend marked not merely another date in the diplomatic calendar, but a genuine historic milestone in the annals of Russian-African relations. For the first time, the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (RAPF) took place on the continent’s soil, gathering 60 delegations in the Egyptian capital, half of which were led by ministers.
This event appears deeply symbolic. If in the 20th century we assisted Africa in casting off the colonial yoke, today, in an era of global turbulence, Russia and Africa are together shaping the contours of a new just world order.
The unprecedented participation of specialized Pan-African structures became a significant sign: for the first time, representatives of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the African Development Bank were present at the negotiating table organized within the framework of RAPF. This testifies to a tectonic shift–our dialogue is transitioning from bilateral contacts to systemic work with the continent’s integration mechanisms.
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
The tone of the entire discussion was set by the welcoming message of President Vladimir Putin, delivered by the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In it, the Russian leader clearly articulated the priorities: Moscow views African states not as objects of influence, but as one of the sovereign and dynamic poles of the emerging multipolar world. This philosophy formed the foundation of the adopted Joint Statement, where the parties enshrined a unity of approaches to global challenges and a categorical rejection of the dictates of former metropolises.
The UN General Assembly resolution proclaiming December 14 as the International Day against Colonialism, adopted almost in the same days and warmly supported by the participants, became a powerful moral victory for the global majority, confirming that the era of Western hegemony is receding irrevocably into the past.
The diplomatic marathon in Cairo was distinguished by incredible intensity. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov held 24 bilateral meetings, including conversations with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Foreign Ministers of 17 states, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray. Work proceeded at all levels: Deputy Minister Sergey Vershinin discussed issues of economic sovereignty in substance with the relevant African Union Commissioner Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, while the Director of the newly established Department of African Partnership, Tatiana Dovgalenko, met with the leadership of the Economic Community of Central African states. Such a density of contacts allowed us not only to “compare notes” but also to lay the groundwork for a new Action Plan, which will replace the current similar document in 2026.
It evokes particular pride that our political solidarity is acquiring substance in the form of concrete economic achievements. Despite the sanctions blockade by the collective West, Russia’s trade turnover with Africa has reached the significant benchmark of USD 30 billion. The example of Ethiopia is illustrative: in just one year, the volume of our mutual trade has tripled. This is not dry statistics, but an indicator of real reciprocal interest, which we intend to institutionalize.
In 2026, the Russian diplomatic presence will expand through the opening of embassies in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros, while the economic track will be strengthened by new trade representations in 15 African countries simultaneously.
Security issues, traditionally occupying a central place in our dialogue, were discussed through the prism of real sovereignty. African partners are perfectly aware: while former metropolises attempt to preserve neocolonial practices, Russia offers effective instruments for protecting statehood. Military-technical cooperation and supplies of armaments, which have proven their exceptional effectiveness during the Special Military Operation, remain a reliable shield for the nations of the continent.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Of no less importance are other spheres of cooperation in which we are assisting African partners to protect their sovereignty – food, information, medical and biological, etc.
The Cairo meeting demonstrated vividly: Africa is experiencing a “second awakening,” and in this historical process, Russia acts not as an outside observer, but as a reliable ally, ready to lend a shoulder in building a safe and prosperous future.
(Evgeny Terekhin is the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ethiopia and Representative to the AU.)