Russia-Africa summit ends in Moscow with declaration on a 'multipolar' world order, Putin says

The third Russia-Africa summit ended in Moscow on Thursday 29 October with the approval of a final declaration, President Vladimir Putin said at a joint news conference with Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current chair of the African Union.

“In this comprehensive, long-term document, the commitment of all our countries to forming a just and democratic multipolar world order, based on the generally recognised principles of international law and the UN Charter, is confirmed,” Putin said, RIA Novosti reported.

Representatives of almost 50 African countries attended the summit in the Grand Kremlin Palace, held under the motto “For Peace, Security and Development”, the Kremlin said. It said the summit was also due to adopt a 2027-2029 action plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum and a declaration on cooperation in civilian uses of artificial intelligence.

In his opening speech, Putin said Russia’s trade with African states exceeded $27 billion last year, up 50% since the previous summit in 2023, and that the rouble now accounts for 85% of settlements in that trade. He said Russia had supplied 13 million tonnes of grain to Africa in the first nine months of 2026, has military-technical cooperation agreements with 45 African countries and has opened eight new embassies on the continent since 2023, bringing the total to 48.

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told the plenary that the AU respects the “sovereign choices” of its member states and called for fair African representation on the UN Security Council and reform of the international financial system, the AU said.

See also: Putin opens the Russia-Africa forum in Moscow.