Russia-Africa Summit Day Two: Putin welcomes African delegations at Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting African leaders and government delegations at the Kremlin for the second day of the Russia-Africa Summit, with joint decisions and another round of presidential talks on the agenda in Moscow.
A group photograph will precede two plenary sessions in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s Alexander Hall. Putin and African Union chair Evariste Ndayishimiye will open the first session, focused on international affairs and Africa’s growing global role. A working breakfast will give other delegation heads the floor.
The gathering is expected to conclude with a declaration on the wider partnership, a separate text on artificial intelligence, and a cooperation action plan for 2027-2029. A package of 33 agreements is also expected to be signed. Putin and Ndayishimiye will then brief the media before the Russian president holds bilateral talks with counterparts from Burundi, Namibia, Kenya, Sudan, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.
Wednesday’s opening economic forum brought proposals to expand trade, strengthen financial independence, and turn Africa’s resources into local industrial growth. Putin urged Russia-Africa trade to at least double to more than $50 billion, backed reform of the IMF and World Bank, and offered to share Russian digital technologies. He also announced the extension of Russia’s epidemic-control program in Africa until 2029.
RT is following Thursday’s speeches, signings, and talks at the Kremlin, bringing you announcements, reactions, and footage from Moscow.
29 October 2026
07:24 GMTMore than 3,500 people from 74 countries are participating in the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, presidential adviser and organizing committee executive secretary Anton Kobyakov has reported. He described the gathering as drawing worldwide attention and delivering strong results.
- 07:16 GMT
African leaders and government delegations are arriving at the Grand Kremlin Palace for the summit’s final day. Delegations from 48 African countries are participating, including 22 led by heads of state, alongside representatives of continental and regional organizations.
- 06:56 GMT
Kenyan President William Ruto has described Russia-Africa ties as rooted in support for independence struggles and scientific, educational, and technical development, and urged a “stronger economic and developmental foundation” for the partnership.
Africa is preparing to “claim its rightful place in the markets, factories, laboratories, research institutions and innovation centres of the world where the future of the global economy is being created,” he wrote on X following Wednesday’s plenary session.
The Russia-Africa relationship is rooted in a history of engagement, including Russia’s contribution to Africa’s struggles for independence and the development of scientific, educational and technical capabilities in several African countries. We have an opportunity to build on that history by giving our partnership a stronger economic and developmental foundation as Africa readies itself to claim its rightful place in the markets, factories, laboratories, research institutions and innovation centres of the world where the future of the global economy is being created.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 28, 2026 - 06:52 GMT
Russia-Ethiopia trade exceeded $1.3 billion in January–September, “more than twice the figure for the whole of 2025,” Putin noted during talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday.
Abiy urged both sides to make nuclear cooperation “a priority area of our work,” highlighting financing, specialist training and access to medical isotopes. Earlier in the day, the prime minister announced delivery of Ethiopia’s first 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets, with four S-400 air-defense batteries also due.
