Russia woos African leaders at Moscow summit

Moscow will host roughly two dozen African leaders at the Russia-Africa summit, with the aim of strengthening ties as a counterweight to Western influence. This is the third such summit since 2019, held during a period of heavy Western sanctions imposed on Russia following its Ukraine offensive. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has emphasized the summit's role in building a multipolar world order, in which political power is distributed among various regions rather than remaining concentrated in the West.

Delegations from 48 African nations, led by 22 heads of state, are expected to attend. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with Malian President Assimi Goita, whose government is currently collaborating with Russian paramilitaries to combat a jihadist threat. The junta in Mali, which seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, has distanced itself from France and aligned closer with Russia.

During the summit, plenary sessions will allow all delegations to address the assembly. Tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, both sending delegations, will also be on the agenda. The DRC president, Felix Tshisekedi, will attend, while Rwanda will be represented by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in December, fighting has persisted in eastern DRC since the M23 rebels resumed hostilities in 2021.

The summit aims to sign 33 agreements, some of which pertain to economic cooperation. Russia has welcomed thousands of African students to its universities annually, and the summit offers an opportunity to bolster diplomatic relations further. Russia currently maintains 48 embassies across Africa, with plans to establish a 49th mission in Liberia.