Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting African leaders and government delegations at the Kremlin for the second day of the Russia-Africa Summit, where another round of presidential talks is on the agenda.
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 and a group photograph will precede two plenary sessions in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s Alexander Hall.
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.
At Wednesday’s opening economic forum proposals to expand trade, strengthen financial independence, and turn Africa’s resources into local industrial growth were submitted. Putin backed reform of the IMF and World Bank, called for a re-doubling of Russia-Africa trade to $50 billion, 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
Russia aims to strengthen its transport and logistics presence in Africa as the continent becomes a hub linking Europe and the Global South, presidential adviser Igor Levitin has told the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
He adds that Moscow sees consolidating its presence on the continent as a “strategic direction” for transport logistics.
Africa needs partnerships based on mutual benefit rather than apologies from Western countries for their colonial past, Raymond Matlala, chairman of South Africa’s BRICS Youth Association, has told RT on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Media Forum in Moscow.
“I’m not hopeful about them apologizing. Africa needs a mutual partner,” Matlala said.
He accused Western countries of exploiting Africa and stressed the need for genuine partnerships that support the continent’s development.
Russian mobile laboratories are already operating in 11 African countries, Anna Popova, the head of Russian health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, has said at the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
“We share our methods, and our mobile laboratories, which we have developed and which are now operating in many countries around the world,” Popova said, adding that the laboratories demonstrate the effectiveness of Russia’s approach.
Russia is helping African nations resist Western neocolonialism, presidential adviser and organizing committee executive secretary Anton Kobyakov has said on the sidelines of day two of the summit.
The West is using Ukrainian mercenaries in Africa to pursue its colonial objectives on the continent, Kobyakov alleged during a briefing at the Russia-Africa Media Forum. His remarks echo accusations by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that Ukraine supports armed groups in the Sahel, which the three countries brought before the UN Security Council in August 2024.
More 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.
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.
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.
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.