Russian President Vladimir Putin and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current African Union chair are co-chairing the Russia-Africa Summit convened in Moscow.
Russia and African countries are seeking to expand cooperation in areas including; grain supplies and nuclear energy to education, technology and new trade routes.
According to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov, 22 heads of state are at the 2-day summit and delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries.
Trade and investment are expected to be among the central issues, alongside energy, agriculture, infrastructure, food security, science, technology, education and humanitarian cooperation.
Trade between Russia and African countries exceeded U$27 billion in 2025, according to Ushakov. That compares with around U$16.8 billion in 2019, when the first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi.
Transport and logistics are also on the agenda, with both sides discussing ways to expand trade routes, improve connections and increase the range of goods exchanged.
Participants are expected to adopt a final declaration and a Russia-Africa Partnership Forum action plan covering 2027-2029.
A separate declaration on cooperation in the civilian use of artificial intelligence is also planned, along with intergovernmental and interagency agreements in several sectors.
