Sochi hosts meeting of Russian and African Foreign Ministers

The First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum took place in Sochi, as reported by the press service of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The event welcomed 54 foreign delegations, totalling 1,500 attendees, including 45 ministers. Representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission and several African integration associations also participated in the conference.

The plenary session was the central event of the meeting. In his welcome address, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the growing role of African countries on the global stage.

“African countries enjoy increasing authority on the world stage. Pursuing constructive, peace-orientated foreign policies, they are playing an increasingly significant role in addressing key issues on the international agenda”

Vladimir Putin Russian President

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov emphasised the positive dynamics in the expanding ties between Moscow and its partners on the continent.

"Economic and trade cooperation is developing. In 2023, we reached a historic high in trade turnover – US$24.5 billion. It is clear that this figure does not reflect our full potential, which we must strive to fully unlock”

Sergey Lavrov Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Meanwhile, Mauritania’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, who chairs the African Union, stressed the importance of strengthening ties between Russia and African nations.

“All African countries present here in Sochi today understand the value of the Russian Federation’s assistance, and I believe we noted the similarity of opinions on many issues,” stated the Mauritanian Foreign Minister.

The business programme of the conference included 20 panel sessions and other specialised events focused on key areas of Russia-Africa cooperation, such as food and energy security, healthcare, education, and the development of regional and global groups, including BRICS. During the conference, the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Uganda announced that Uganda had received an official invitation to become a partner country in the group.

In addition, bilateral meetings were held between representatives of participating states.

For instance, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos held talks with his counterparts from Russia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Guinea, as reported by ENA, a partner of TV BRICS. According to the diplomat, Russia and Africa share a long-standing relationship, with Russia offering constructive cooperation in areas such as information technology, agriculture, and climate change mitigation.

Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio, quoted by Prensa Latina, a partner of TV BRICS, noted that the Sochi meeting opened opportunities for Russia-Africa relations to reach a new level and for advancing the interests of African countries globally. He identified agriculture, high technology, and skilled workforce training as promising areas of collaboration. The implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 was also a key topic at the event.

Anton Kobyakov, Russian Advisor to the President, announced that the ministerial conference will be held regularly between Russia-Africa summits. He added that Russia is currently negotiating with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia on establishing a free trade zone.

The event concluded with joint statements, roadmaps, and intergovernmental agreements covering global agenda issues, as well as cooperation in cybersecurity, space exploration, and economic and social development.

The ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was established as a new dialogue format during the second Russia-Africa Summit held in St. Petersburg in 2023. It is intended to serve as a platform for coordinating joint efforts between Russia and international partners.

In an exclusive commentary to TV BRICS, Aleksander Stenko, a political scientist, religious scholar, and lecturer at the RUDN University named after Patrice Lumumba, drew attention to the fact that the conference is not limited solely to the trade and economic agenda but plays a larger role.

“The launch of such a new ministerial and public-expert track of Russian-African cooperation is a clear confirmation of the comprehensive approach of Russia and its partners from Africa to the development of equal comprehensive cooperation in a variety of areas – both at the bilateral level and within the framework of the search for new options for cooperation within the existing and prospective integration associations”

Aleksander Stenko Political Scientist

The First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was established as a new dialogue format during the second Russia-Africa Summit, which was held in St. Petersburg in 2023. It is expected to become a platform for coordinating joint work between the Russian Federation and foreign partners.

Photo: Roscongress Foundation