Leaders are set to adopt a three-year cooperation plan before the Russian president holds a new round of bilateral talks
Published 29 Oct, 2026 06:37
| Updated 29 Oct, 2026 11:42
© Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev
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 have opened the first session, focused on international affairs and Africa’s growing global role, and 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.
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.
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Russia-Africa Summit Day One: Putin hosts leaders from across the continent (As it happened)
RT is following Thursday’s speeches, signings, and talks at the Kremlin, bringing you announcements, reactions, and footage from Moscow.
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29 October 2026
17:34 GMT
Russia and African countries have adopted a declaration on the civilian use of AI, calling for fair and inclusive cooperation under the central role of the UN, Ndayishimiye said.
He stressed that the agreements must lead to concrete, measurable results, with their implementation closely monitored.
Ndayishimiye said African countries expect tangible benefits, including jobs, scholarships, access to energy and digital innovation, and want investment and mutually beneficial contracts rather than aid.
- 17:31 GMT
Ndayishimiye praised the outcome of the summit, saying the talks demonstrated a shared commitment to peace, development, and closer cooperation.
He thanked Moscow for hosting the gathering despite the ongoing international tensions and described Russia as Africa’s “friend and strategic partner.”
- 17:31 GMT
Russia plans to hold another Russia-Africa Summit, with the date and location to be announced later, Putin said at the closing press conference.
He described this week’s summit as a success, saying it would give fresh momentum to relations between Moscow and African countries.
Putin said Russia was committed to building a strategic partnership with Africa and that the interest was mutual. He also described Russia and African nations as natural partners in building a fairer multipolar world.
- 17:29 GMT
Russia will continue supplying grain to African countries and plans to increase exports of medicines to the continent, Putin said.
Moscow remains committed to being a “reliable grain supplier” for its African partners, while expanding cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, he added.
- 17:22 GMT
Russian and African representatives have signed a series of bilateral agreements covering industrial cooperation, information technology and the use of Russian digital solutions, including artificial intelligence, Putin said.
The agreements are intended to support joint projects and introduce new technologies across African economies and public administration, he added.
- 17:20 GMT
African leaders have expressed interest in bringing Russian businesses into their countries to help increase agricultural production, Putin said.
Moscow is ready to share its “expertise” and advanced technologies in livestock farming, crop cultivation, food processing and storage, he added.
- 17:14 GMT
Russia and African countries have considerable room to expand trade, with current turnover of $27 billion far from its potential, Putin said.
“We are only at the beginning of the road,” he said.
The newly approved cooperation plan through 2029 includes measures to increase trade volumes and improve the range of goods exchanged between Russia and African countries.
- 17:13 GMT
The Russia-Africa Summit has adopted the Moscow Declaration, reaffirming participants’ commitment to a multipolar world order based on international law and the UN Charter, Putin said at a joint press conference with Ndayishimiye.
The leaders also approved a joint action plan through 2029, setting out measures to expand cooperation in trade, economic development and humanitarian affairs.
Putin said the summit had brought together a wide range of views and proposals from African leaders, with participants agreeing on the importance of maintaining relations based on equality and mutual benefit.
- 17:06 GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who chairs the African Union, hold a joint press conference following the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Watch their closing statements live.
- 16:37 GMT
Take a look at some of the most colorful moments from the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
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29 October 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 07:24 GMT
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.
- 07:34 GMT
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.
- 07:36 GMT
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.
- 07:57 GMT
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.
- 08:02 GMT
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.
- 08:10 GMT
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.
- 08:11 GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun his speech at the plenary session.
He stresses that Russian companies invest in African countries and treat their partners with honesty and respect rather than adopting a colonial approach.
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