News

The official website of the Third Russia–Africa summit and other events in the Russia–Africa format has posted the business programme of the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which will be held on 28–29 October 2026 at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow. The main theme of the Forum is “Developing Mutually Beneficial Cooperation and Unlocking the Potential of Every African Country”. The business programme includes more than 30 panel sessions and discussions divided into four thematic blocks: “Sovereignty: The Foundation of Sustainable Development”, “The Economy of a Sovereign World Order”, “Cooperation in Society and Human Capital” and “Technology and Innovation for a Better Quality of Life”. The central event of the Forum’s business programme will be the plenary session.

“The business programme sessions of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum – held alongside the Third Russia–Africa Summit – will focus on the most pressing issues in Russian–African cooperation within the framework of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum. These sessions will also align with the priorities of ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’ and other strategic documents adopted by the African Union and Africa’s regional organizations,” noted Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the Third Russia–Africa Summit and other Russia–Africa events.

The programme for the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum includes roundtables and thematic sessions focused on cooperation between Russia and the African continent. Topics to be covered range from trade, investment, industry, and technology transfer to food and energy security, digitalization, healthcare, education, science, media, and youth exchanges. Additionally, the issue of sustainable access to water will be addressed, in line with the goal for 2026 established by the African Union for the entire continent.

“The Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will consolidate the progressive momentum of the multifaceted Russian–African partnership and identify promising avenues for its development in the coming years. The themes of the business sessions are highly relevant and fully align with the long-term interests of both Russia and Africa, as well as with contemporary geopolitical challenges,” emphasized Georgy Borisenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The business programme’s “Sovereignty: The Foundation of Sustainable Development” section will focus on the application of integrated Russian technologies to ensure stability in African countries and modern means of combating epidemics, the prospects and potential threats of using information, communications, and digital technologies, as well as effective strategies for countering neocolonialism in the 21st century. In addition, participants in the sessions hereof will discuss the interaction of political parties in conditions of geopolitical instability.

Sessions in the “The Economy of a Sovereign World Order” section will focus on cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and integration associations and individual African countries, the development of economic cooperation, transport cooperation, government auditing as a guarantee of sustainable economic growth, and cooperation in the agro-industrial complex. Special attention will be paid to the BRICS platform as a catalyst for Russian-African business cooperation.

Participants in the sessions under the “Cooperation in Society and Human Capital” section will discuss the transfer of best educational practices in general, vocational, and supplementary education; the health of the population as a cornerstone for sustainable development, demographic stability, economic growth, and an improved quality of life; educational and scientific partnerships between Russia and African nations; the role of women in Russia and Africa in fostering trust and global cooperation; and collaboration among non-profit organizations to support international development. Furthermore, discussions will cover the legacy of Soviet-African relations – both in the continent’s collective memory and in contemporary politics – as well as the concepts of spiritual sovereignty and the preservation of traditional values.

The sessions within the “Technology and Innovation for a Better Quality of Life” section will focus on the Russia–Africa energy dialogue, the development and application of artificial intelligence across the African continent, space technologies, technological solutions for the efficient management of water resources, and practical approaches to expanding access to clean water in African nations. Particular attention will be given to nuclear technologies in Africa, as well as cooperation between Russia and African countries in the areas of land restoration and drought resilience.

The Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will also include the Russia–Africa Media Forum, featuring leaders of African media outlets. Topics of the sessions include strategies for widespread dissemination of narratives and methods of countering attempts by foreign media to influence the domestic politics of Russian and African countries, media resources as a tool to combat disinformation and strengthen the positive image of Russia and Africa, and rethinking the challenges of modern media. Participants of the Media Forum will also consider the prospects for the development of the African continent and its relations with Russia through the prism of the legacy of the great political figures of the past, who laid down the principles of the struggle for true sovereignty.

The Russia–Africa Youth Forum will take place at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Russian Foreign Ministry.