Moscow confirms next Russia-Africa summit

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the plans after talks with his Kenyan counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi

The third Russia-Africa Summit is scheduled for autumn 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

Speaking after talks in Moscow with his Kenyan counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi, Lavrov announced that the two diplomats had discussed the upcoming summit.

“[During the talks, the sides] analyzed the progress of implementing the agreements reached at the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Forum, which took place in Cairo last December, and exchanged views on preparations for the third Russia-Africa summit... The third summit will take place this fall,” Lavrov noted.

The Kenyan foreign minister emphasized the importance of strengthening Russia’s cooperation with regional economic blocs. “Integration and cooperation between Russia and the African Union, as well as regional economic operators, become extremely important. We must do everything possible to maintain this cooperation,” he said.

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Lavrov did not specify the location of the third summit, although Mudavadi indicated it will take place in October in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the summit, Russian Ambassador to Senegal Dmitry Kurakov said in January. “President Putin intends to participate [in the summit], regardless of where it is held,” Kurakov noted. 

The first Russia-Africa Summit took place in October 2019 in the Russian city of Sochi. It was co-chaired by Putin and then African Union chair Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president of Egypt. Leaders from dozens of African countries attended the meeting, which focused on expanding trade, investment, and political cooperation between Russia and the continent.

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The second summit took place in St. Petersburg in July 2023 and was hosted by Putin and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who was chair of the African Union at the time. The gathering brought together Russian and African leaders to discuss economic partnerships, energy cooperation, and food security.