The Architecture of Indivisible Sovereignty: Comprehensive Russian Technologies in Securing Stability in African Countries
In parthership with Rosoboronexport
A country’s sovereignty extends far beyond the inviolability of its borders and encompasses a wide range of threats: from terrorist cells to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and from the smuggling of natural resources to external attempts to destabilize legitimate authority. This panel session focuses on the concept of ‘indivisible sovereignty’ – indivisible in the sense that physical, digital, and social security form a unified whole. Amidst hybrid threats, security is achieved to a certain extent through high levels of situational awareness on the ground thanks to modern monitoring tools such as UAVs and satellite systems, as well as countermeasures to protect facilities against UAVs. These are all proven solutions based on unmanned systems that have demonstrated their effectiveness in real-world conditions. Special attention should be paid to digital sovereignty, specifically the protection of critical infrastructure and countering tactics used in so-called ‘colour revolutions’. Russian specialists have unique expertise in this regard. National rapid-response systems, mobile field camps, autonomous medical centres, and water purification systems are all tools that enable a country to maintain a presence and care for its citizens, even in the most remote regions and conflict zones. True sovereignty lies in a government’s ability to ensure the security and well-being of each citizen. Which ‘colour revolution’ tactics pose a threat to national security? What are some of the modern forms and methods used to finance terrorism? How can technological dependence be leveraged as a tool for geopolitical pressure? How can Russia’s security expertise benefit African nations? What cutting-edge approaches and technologies are effective in combatting the smuggling of natural resources, drugs, and weapons? How can we counter terrorist and hybrid threats? What tools enable a country to maintain control over its national information space? How can cooperation with Russia bolster the technological independence of African nations?
Russia and Africa: Sovereignty in the Fight Against Epidemics
Persistent epidemiological challenges continue to hinder the vast economic potential of African nations, despite the continent possessing the resources necessary to independently counter biological risks. To mitigate these threats, Russia actively supports its African partners in strengthening their autonomy in biosecurity. A key milestone of this collaboration is the deployment of 20 operational mobile laboratories across 11 countries, which empowers local specialists to rapidly detect and contain disease outbreaks. Ultimately, this modern infrastructure – paired with robust national healthcare systems – accelerates Africa’s self-reliance in epidemic management, fortifying domestic capabilities and removing disease-driven barriers to sustainable economic growth. What are currently the most critical priorities and approaches for epidemic management in Africa? What are some key examples of successful Russian-African collaboration in mitigating infectious disease outbreaks? How feasible is the establishment of an integrated, continent-wide response system for biothreats?
Historical Memory and Justice: Effective Strategies for Countering Neocolonialism in the 21st Century
Historical memory of colonialism and the struggle for independence remains a vital element of the political, cultural, and value-based sovereignty of African states. Under today’s conditions, questions of historical justice are rising on the international agenda and encompass reparations, restitution of cultural heritage, defence of historical truth, reform of humanities scholarship, and resistance to neocolonial practices. The session will focus on effective strategies for countering new forms of colonialism in the 21st century, as well as on developing practical forms of international cooperation to preserve historical memory, strengthen equality, and advance a just world order. BRICS also offers further opportunities for more active participation in discussions on the consequences of colonialism and for strengthening South-South cooperation in science, education, and culture. Which international and national mechanisms are most effective in defending historical truth and countering distortions of the history of colonialism and the anti-colonial struggle? How can the discussion of decolonization be moved from the declarative and symbolic plane into practice through education, cultural policy, scholarship, archives, museums, and the media? How can the role of African research centres, universities, archives, museums, and expert communities in shaping the global agenda on historical memory be strengthened? What makes BRICS an attractive platform for African partners?
Interparty Engagement Amid Geopolitical Instability
The current international situation is marked by a high degree of tension, uncertainty, and fierce rivalry, all of which undermine the foundations of international peace and security. At the same time, political parties have the potential to contribute to building a just multipolar system founded on the principles of freedom, justice, sovereign equality, civilizational diversity, and respectful, mutually beneficial cooperation. Responsible political forces represent the interests of the peoples of the World Majority on international platforms, along with their expectations and aspirations, which shape the main agenda and direction of policy. This state of affairs can turn interparty cooperation and public diplomacy into factors in consolidating sovereign states. Which themes are of mutual interest for multilateral interparty engagement? Which interparty initiatives might help reduce geopolitical tensions? And how might differences between parties across the political spectrum be eased?
Digital Dimension: Prospects and Challenges
In the context of globalization, when the malicious use of ICT is becoming a transborder issue, and the tools for their implementation are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the only way to ensure sustainable information security is through joint efforts. Africa is more actively integrated into the information space than ever before thanks to dynamic innovative development on the continent and the fact that African countries are closing the digital divide. At the same time, however, rapid digital transformation without proper protection creates numerous risks in the information environment. An exchange of competencies and proven best practices is one potential response to these challenges. Russia has a wealth of experience in developing digital solution platforms, personnel training, threat monitoring, and developing secure software, and is ready to share it with African partners. Experts at this session will discuss how to prevent the use of modern ICT solutions for illicit purposes and protect digital sovereignty in the face of the aggressive actions by certain states and TNCs to assert their dominance in the information space. How to overcome technological inequality and the neocolonial dictatorship of Western corporations? What are the best practices for building resilient and secure critical information infrastructure in Africa? What solutions are most effective in ensuring Africa’s technological sovereignty?
The EAEU and Africa: An Integration Partnership
The development of regional economic integration in Eurasia and Africa is opening up scope for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to broaden its cooperation with integration blocs as well as with individual countries in the region. This dialogue is intended to lay the groundwork and create fresh opportunities for growth in mutual trade, investment, and industrial cooperation, while helping to shape practical mechanisms that allow business to make use of them. Among the questions that may be raised are growth in trade through the reduction of regulatory and infrastructure barriers, the exploration of transport and logistics options, along with support for joint projects from development institutions. Particular attention will be paid to industrial cooperation, the agro-industrial sector and food security, as well as to direct contacts between business communities. Which instruments of inter-institutional cooperation will deliver practical results for business? Which areas hold the greatest potential for joint projects? How can the sharing of integration experience, the development of logistics, and cooperation with development institutions help strengthen trade and investment ties between the EAEU and Africa?
The Russia–Africa Transport Partnership: Strategy, Technologies, Workforce
Africa is shaping a vast scape for transport development, where territorial connectivity serves as a cornerstone for economic growth, expansion of trade, and the strengthening of industrial ties. The African Union has established long-term priorities for the development of infrastructure and is working to create an integrated transport network. At the regional level, economic communities and associations of African states are developing cross-border corridors. At the national level, these plans are being translated into specific transport projects. For Russia, this opens up opportunities for long-term partnership – from the supply of transport equipment and engineering solutions to joint design, digitalization, maintenance services, and workforce training. Sustainability of such a partnership becomes true when infrastructure, services, and human capital are integrated into a single project. Which transport routes and projects will become the priorities for Russia–Africa cooperation through 2030? What must the Russian transport partnership offer to restore its competitiveness among other players in the African market? How can Russian transport technologies and expertise be implemented in Africa in a sustainable way – from design and maintenance to digital management and the training of local specialists? What three steps would enable the launch of the first joint projects as early as 2027?
Economic Cooperation between Russia and Africa: The Path to Equal Partnership
Russia and Africa are united by a strategic commitment to a multipolar world order founded on mutual respect for sovereignty and regard for the interests of all sides. Within this framework, the main areas of economic cooperation include joint infrastructure and energy projects, the creation of new logistics corridors, and the development of international settlement mechanisms that do not rely on the dollar or the euro. The key platforms for economic cooperation are BRICS+ and the EAEU. Expanding the geography of these integration groupings opens up new opportunities for economic growth for their member countries. The EAEU is Africa’s bridge to Eurasia. What are the prospects for a free trade zone between the EAEU and the African Union, and what opportunities would it open up? BRICS offers Africa the chance to industrialize, control its own resources, and build its own value chains. Will BRICS enlargement affect Russia’s position in Africa? What role do the driving forces of cooperation play in developing economic partnerships among the member countries of these integration groupings, including Russia, China, India, Belarus, and South Africa, and what interests do the other members have? What scope does Russia have to compete with foreign suppliers offering cheaper goods and low-cost financial support? Is there genuine access to financing? How far has the role of national currencies in settlements between Russia and Africa strengthened, and how are alternative payment mechanisms developing compared with 2023? And is investment from Africa a possibility?
The Russia–Africa Industrial Dialogue
African nations are consistently developing their industrial potential with the aim to increase the depth of raw material processing, launch new productions, and strengthen their technological expertise. Solutions are needed to achieve these goals that not only address immediate needs but also create added value domestically, foster local production, and build own expertise. Russia has in place practical experience that can be tailored to the specific objectives and priorities of African nations. What are the possibilities for implementing complex industrial projects, including the localization of production, the transfer of technology and expertise, the development of local supply chains, and long-term partnerships?
The Russia–Africa Agro-Industrial Alliance: Meeting the Challenges Together
In partnership with Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers (RAPU)
According to UN forecasts, the population of the African continent will grow by almost a billion people by 2050. Amid the global transformation of the world order and growing geopolitical instability, feeding this macro-region is becoming a vital factor in international strategic stability for decades to come. Despite unprecedented external pressure, Russia is becoming an increasingly important guarantor of Africa’s food security. The Russian-African agro-industrial alliance has today developed into a systematic industrial and technological partnership, ranging from uninterrupted supplies of environmentally sound mineral fertilizers and other means of production needed to build the continent’s food sovereignty to joint investment in infrastructure and the transfer of modern agricultural technologies. Which financial and logistical mechanisms can protect trade between Russia and African countries from unlawful restrictions and give fresh impetus to trade turnover? What are the prospects for localizing the assembly of Russian agricultural machinery and creating transport and logistics hubs across the continent? And what role do fundamental science and cross-cutting genetic platforms play in strengthening the food sovereignty of African countries over the long term?
From Food Products to Agricultural Technologies
Agriculture is the cornerstone of the economies of sub-Saharan Africa, providing a livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Even so, the sector faces complex problems, and a substantial proportion of the region’s population, 20% in 2024, suffers from hunger. Low soil fertility is a key biological constraint on production. In these circumstances, agricultural technologies can both increase the efficiency of African agriculture and help address the continent’s social challenges. How can Russia help its African partners make the agro-industrial sector more efficient? Which agricultural technologies are most in demand among African businesses? And what needs to be done first to launch joint projects in this field?
State Audit as a Guarantee of Sustainable Economic Growth
Under today’s conditions, as countries face complex challenges ranging from macroeconomic instability against a backdrop of sanctions and disrupted supply chains to the need for accelerated digital transformation, external state audit is moving beyond traditional oversight to become an important strategic instrument with a direct bearing on the stability and pace of economic development. Sustainable economic growth means more than rising GDP: it means balanced development, the effective use of limited resources, the reduction of systemic risks, and greater public trust in state institutions. State audit is precisely what helps create the conditions for this. For the Russian Federation, the subject is pertinent in the context of delivering national projects, achieving strategic development goals, and improving the efficiency of budget processes. For the countries of Africa, it matters in light of the need to strengthen institutions of state oversight and administration, combat corruption, and ensure the effective use of both domestic budget resources as well as attracted investment and international aid.
The BRICS Platform as a Catalyst for Russian-African Business Cooperation
Amid the transformation of the global architecture and the move towards a multipolar world order, BRICS is one of the key centres shaping a new economic reality. The historic enlargement of BRICS, which has brought African states such as Egypt and Ethiopia into a grouping that already included South Africa as a full member, along with Uganda and Nigeria as partner states, is turning the organization into a powerful bridge between Russia and the African continent. Business cooperation between Russia and Africa on the BRICS platform opens up unique opportunities for diversifying trade, building durable settlement and payment systems, logistics corridors, and insurance institutions within the Russia–BRICS–Africa framework, as well as for technology transfer and the delivery of major infrastructure projects. What are the strategic priorities of states and development institutions in integrating this framework? Which practical mechanisms of the BRICS Business Council can help develop trade, investment, and direct cooperation between businesses? Which barriers most limit engagement today, and what solutions might be proposed to overcome them? How is Russian business responding to the needs of African markets in the agro-industrial sector, energy, industry, infrastructure, IT, and other promising fields? And which specific projects and areas of cooperation might be taken forward as a result of this session?
Russia and Africa: The Transfer of Best Educational Technologies in General, Secondary Vocational, and Supplementary Education
In the current geopolitical climate, Russia and African states are steadily building up a partnership that spans a wide variety of fields. Education remains one of the priority areas of this cooperation. Historically established ties provide a solid foundation for dialogue with African countries. Partners’ keen interest in studying Russian, in having students enroll at Russian universities, as well as in joint educational projects, is noticeably strengthening this engagement. Russian approaches to general and secondary vocational education, along with well-honed teaching methods, hold considerable potential and could prove a valuable resource for the partnership. Which elements of Russian educational experience would it make sense to incorporate into the policies of African states? What forms is cooperation in general and secondary vocational education taking today? Which elements of the Soviet and Russian educational legacy remain relevant and could be scaled up today? How can Russian educational initiatives be aligned with the national development strategies of African countries? Which industries are driving economic growth in priority African countries, and which Russian secondary vocational education programmes are most in demand to supply them with personnel? Which Russian educational initiatives are likely to be of greatest interest to African countries?
Russia–Africa Cultural Dialogue: Presentation of African Art and Cultures in Russian Museums
Africa is the cradle of a multitude of cultures that gravitate towards unity in infinite diversity of expression. Unfortunately, Russian museums rarely host exhibitions that comprehensively present African culture and art in their historical, contemporary, and global contexts. In their work with African collections, Russian museums are faced with the tasks of overcoming the stereotypical perception of African culture as “traditional and exotic”, demonstrating the contribution of African cultures to world art, forming a scientific base for the study of African art in Russia, and strengthening humanitarian ties between the Russian Federation and African countries. The strategic partnership between Russian and African museums should focus on the study, preservation, and promotion of Africa’s cultural heritage; the sharing of knowledge and expertise in museum practice; the exchange of exhibits and collections, including for extended periods; joint scientific research, including research and field activities in Africa; the holding of scientific conferences on African art and cultures; the development and implementation of joint educational programmes in museum practice; professional development and internships in Russia for African museum staff; and internships and practical training for Russian students in African museums and for African students in Russia. What approaches are required for an objective and substantively valuable representation of the artistic diversity of African cultures in Russian museums? How do the formation of a scientific base and the implementation of joint research contribute to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of African countries?
Municipal Diplomacy Between Russia and Africa: New Growth Points for Humanitarian Engagement
Health as a Shared Goal: Russia and Africa on the Path to Sovereign Development
Public health is one of the key preconditions for sustainable development, demographic stability, economic growth, as well as a better quality of life. This agenda is of particular importance for Russia and for African countries. National healthcare systems develop in differing social, economic, and demographic circumstances, yet they address a common set of tasks: making medical care more accessible and of better quality, strengthening primary care, advancing preventive medicine, training personnel, introducing modern technology, along with securing more resilient supplies of medicines. Wider international cooperation opens up opportunities to share experience on equal terms and to seek solutions together. There is no universal model equally applicable to every state: each country builds its healthcare system around national priorities, the resources available, and the needs of its people. That diversity of approaches can itself become the basis for mutual reinforcement, the exchange of effective practices, as well as joint projects. How can a shift be achieved from largely reacting to disease towards the systematic development of disease prevention and health promotion as the foundation of resilient national healthcare systems? Which governance mechanisms help make national healthcare systems more resilient? How should workforce, research, and technological capacity be developed? Which formats of engagement make it possible to move from sharing experience to joint projects with measurable results? Which approaches to the comprehensive analysis of national healthcare systems, covering infrastructure, workforce, funding, and technology, make it possible to identify the distinctive features of each system along with promising avenues for its development? How can a shared agenda focused on public health, quality of life, and the long-term sustainability of society be shaped while national models retain their independence?
Scientific Partnership Between Russia and Africa: From Joint Research to Technological Leadership
Directions for Developing the Educational Partnership Between Russia and Africa
The Mission of Women in Russia and Africa in Building Trust and Global Cooperation
Russia and Africa are steadily developing engagement across many fields, from trade and investment to science, education, technology, and humanitarian cooperation. Women in Russia and Africa are becoming increasingly significant participants in these processes: they initiate business and social projects, develop education and research, create new technological solutions, build professional communities, and strengthen humanitarian ties between countries. Ahead of the fifth anniversary Eurasian Women’s Forum, a special session on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa Summit will provide a venue for open dialogue between women leaders from Russia and Africa on joint initiatives to expand partnership and shape new models of international cooperation. How can women’s participation in developing trade, economic, scientific, technological, educational, and humanitarian ties between Russia and Africa be expanded? Which forms of partnership, including business communities, alliances, joint educational programmes, and cultural and social initiatives, can create lasting connections? And which joint technological projects might bring Russian and African women’s communities together?
International Cooperation Between Non-Profit Organizations and Assistance for International Development
Closer engagement between civil society institutions in Russia and Africa is aimed at developing joint approaches to global challenges, as well as advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Mechanisms for cooperation between non-governmental organizations include joint forums, expert consultations, partnership projects, and the exchange of best practices. These provide a basis for identifying priorities in humanitarian, technological, ideological, and legal cooperation. How can humanitarian cooperation help overcome the crisis of confidence in global international institutions? How should the ideological and values agenda of international humanitarian cooperation be brought up to date? Which modern technological and analytical tools need to be introduced to enable an objective assessment of humanitarian conditions and crisis situations? What legal mechanisms exist for international development assistance in the sphere of engagement with the non-governmental sector?
Clogged Arteries: The Challenges of Our Time. A Russia–Africa Dialogue
Thrombosis is not merely a medical term but one of the principal threats to global health in the 21st century. According to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), one in four deaths worldwide is caused by thrombosis-related disease. Thrombosis is a challenge that cuts across every medical discipline. Patients in cardiology, neurology, surgery, and oncology all face the risk of fatal complications, and the threat affects everyone, from athletes and office workers to frequent flyers. Despite the enormous significance of the problem, awareness of thrombosis remains critically low, while the diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic conditions present numerous challenges. What is the epidemiology of thrombosis in Russia and Africa, and what regional patterns emerge? How can compulsory risk assessment be incorporated into routine practice? What can be done to improve diagnostic capabilities where resources are limited, and is there a place for personalized medicine? How can new drugs be made accessible to patients in low- and middle-income countries?
A History of Mutual Choice: Soviet-African Relations in Continental Memory and Present Politics
In partnership with Eurasia Autonomous Non-Profit Organization
In the era when independent Africa was taking shape, the USSR offered not a model of dependency but opportunities for development on the continent’s own terms: universities, engineering schools, medical aid, industrial projects, and the training of specialists. Why did that support become part of the continent’s collective memory, and how is it being carried forward today? What underpins the Russian-African partnership of the present day? Which projects are already changing people’s lives? How can the trust built across generations be turned into new opportunities for development?
Russia and Africa: Spiritual Sovereignty, Traditional Values, and Educational Interaction
Discussion of traditional spiritual and moral values is seen as a venue for shaping consolidated responses to the challenges and threats posed by the collective West. Russia’s rich experience of peacemaking, including its role in resolving conflicts with an ethnic and religious dimension, is also of particular interest to participants from abroad. A further point of interest is the growing presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in African countries as a source of humanitarian and academic cooperation and a means of shaping a common position among believers in Russia and Africa on the main questions of public life. Particular attention is given to humanitarian and social dialogue between Russia and the countries of Africa. How can the spiritual sovereignty and rights of Christians on the African continent be protected? What should an effective strategy for countering religious extremism and the ideology of terrorism look like? Through which specific educational, cultural, and interfaith initiatives might lasting engagement between countries be developed?
The Russia–Africa Energy Dialogue: Russian Technological Solutions for the Continent
Africa has substantial reserves of oil and natural gas, considerable hydropower potential, as well as high levels of solar irradiance. At the same time, its total installed generating capacity stands at around 253 GW, or roughly 2.6% of the global figure of some 9,600 GW. The UN projects that Africa’s population will grow from 1.5 billion today to 2.5 billion by 2050. Population growth across the continent is accompanied by industrial development and urbanization, driving a steady rise in demand for electricity, which experts estimate could double over the same period. Africa is therefore faced with the task of meeting the growing needs of its economy and its people for reliable, stable energy at an affordable price. Russia views energy cooperation with African countries as part of building long-term energy security founded on the principles of energy justice. It stands ready to help secure non-discriminatory access for African countries to energy technology and solutions, whatever their current level of economic development. This approach can be put into practice through cooperation across a broad range of areas: from hydrocarbon exploration and production to the supply of grid equipment, the construction and modernization of hydroelectric, thermal, and nuclear power plants, as well as the rollout of hybrid renewable energy systems. What does the concept of energy justice encompass? Which Russian competencies and technologies will be most in demand on the African market? How can the creation of a complete energy value chain contribute to the energy independence of African countries?
The Dimensions of AI: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa and Russia
Artificial intelligence is becoming a key factor in global competition, shaping new markets in energy, infrastructure, data, and human capital. Within the next few years, the computing sector serving AI could multiply global energy consumption several times over, radically changing the significance of regions with substantial energy and raw material potential, Africa above all. For the countries of the continent, AI opens up unique opportunities for accelerated development while creating the risk of a new form of technological inequality. Rising demand for electricity, critical minerals, and human capital makes Africa an important link in the global AI economy. Yet, without the development of infrastructure, institutions, and a regulatory framework, there is a risk that the continent becomes locked into the role of supplier of resources and cheap computing capacity. For Russia and the African states, cooperation on AI opens up opportunities for new technological partnerships aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty, developing infrastructure, creating technological standards of their own, and participating in shaping the global technological order. How does rising global demand for computing capacity change Africa’s significance in the world economy? What opportunities does this open up for joint infrastructure projects between Russia and the countries of the continent? Can artificial intelligence become a source of employment and economic growth in Africa? Which models of regulation, infrastructure, and skills development are needed for African countries to become full participants in the AI economy? And which areas of cooperation on AI might drive engagement over the long term?
Space Technologies for Accelerating Economic Development and Raising Living Standards in Africa
Applied space science accelerates economic development and raises living standards, with applications ranging from safeguarding food security and mitigating the impact of natural disasters to preventing humanitarian crises, monitoring natural resources, reducing poverty, providing telecommunications, and addressing healthcare challenges. The results of space research are used in virtually every area of life, including communications, security, agriculture, subsoil use, navigation, cartography, materials science, and many others. Space activity has a multiplier effect on the economies of developing countries, taking science and education to a new level while transforming approaches to transport and logistics, agriculture, and resource extraction. African governments consequently face the task of retaining state sovereignty over the market for space services, safeguarding national security, and securing cooperation in space on equal terms for the benefit of their own development. Doing so requires overcoming a number of current obstacles: persistently limited awareness of the benefits and commercial potential of space technologies; tensions between commercial activity in space and the interests of nation states; limited financial and technological resources; and a shortage of qualified personnel capable of developing, applying, and adapting space technologies. How can awareness of space technologies and space education be raised across African countries? How can national security and cooperation in space on equal terms be assured? What does the future of space research in Africa look like at the continental, regional, and national space agency levels? Which applications of space activity are the most pressing priorities for African countries? Which regions and countries currently appear to be the partners of choice for African states developing their own space programmes? What difficulties do African states encounter in developing national and regional space programmes? What specific steps do African countries need to take to overcome them? Where does cooperation between Russia and African countries in space currently stand, and what are its prospects?
Climate Technologies for Sustainable Development
Today, the African continent is becoming one of the key centers of economic development. A growing population, vast natural resources, and the innovative potential of African countries creates tremendous opportunities for the region to establish itself as an economic centre. Building a reliable foundation for the region's long-term development is impossible without ensuring energy and food security, digitalization, urbanization as well as creating functional and sustainable infrastructure. At the same time, African countries are the most vulnerable to the climate change and natural disasters, which cause economic damage to the continent and limit its ability to address the pressing challenges facing the region. Under these circumstances, the use of low-carbon technologies could become a key driver of development on the African continent, enabling a balance between socio-economic growth and improved climate resilience. Russia has significant experience in developing and implementing advanced low-carbon solutions in various economic sectors. What challenges and difficulties do African countries face? What technological opportunities to overcome these challenges will allow us to find new areas of cooperation between Russia and Africa?
AI as a Factor in Russia’s and Africa’s Development: Science and Human Capital
Artificial intelligence is penetrating the economy and public life ever more deeply. The development of AI itself is determined above all by science and skilled people: by a country’s ability to conduct its own research, train specialists, and turn research results into technology. At the same time, the potential of AI gives rise to new challenges for the international community as well as new opportunities. The key to meeting them successfully lies in building a global space of trust and cooperation. As part of implementing the provisions of the Declaration of the Third Russia–Africa Summit on cooperation in the civil application of artificial intelligence technologies, it is important to discuss joint research projects, educational programmes, and mechanisms of partnership in this field. How does building a global space of trust in AI contribute to the development of international scientific and educational cooperation? What challenges and prospects arise in engagement between research institutions in Russia and Africa? How might Russian experience in applying artificial intelligence across industries be adapted to the practical tasks facing African partners?
More Than Infrastructure: Smart Cities in Africa
In partnershipo with Sberbank
Rapid urbanization confronts African cities with the task of strengthening their competitiveness and establishing a durable position in the new economy. One of the key conditions for attracting investment, talent, and modern production is the quality of the environment for business and industry: infrastructure and transport connectivity, urban services, workforce potential, access to financing, as well as technology and innovation. Smart city solutions are becoming an important part of the modern digital and technological environment, improving the quality of governance and the technological maturity of a city. How can smart cities turn rapid population growth in Africa's cities into a resource for development, creating the conditions for people to realize their potential and for business and industry to grow, and what constraints stand in the way? Which areas of digitalization and which technological solutions hold the most promise for improving the efficiency of urban management and the quality of the urban environment? And what opportunities does this open up for cooperation between Russia and Africa?
Clean Water for the Countries of the African Continent: The Socioeconomic and Technological Dimension
Clean water is a vital component of sustainable development, bearing directly on public health, food security, the quality of the urban environment, economic productivity, and social stability. For the countries of the African continent, addressing this challenge requires a combination of infrastructure investment, modern technological solutions, and effective water resource management; this is particularly relevant, given that the African Union declared 2026 as the Year of “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems". The session is devoted to practical approaches to expanding access to clean water in African countries, the prospects for Russian-African cooperation in water supply and treatment, and the development of scalable models of engagement between government, business, science, and development institutions. What are the key barriers to providing the people of Africa with access to clean water? Which water treatment and purification technologies are most in demand and economically viable for African countries today? How can Russia help Africa address the shortage of clean water for its people and its economy?
Nuclear Technology in Africa: Gaining Momentum for the Future
In partnership with the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Nuclear technology is a reliable, stable source of electricity, capable of meeting the rapidly growing needs of a country's population and industry. Nuclear solutions are at the same time an engine for creating a whole cluster of related industries that foster a country’s innovative development, among them nuclear medicine, agriculture, as well as science. Given the competencies it is building, its geographical characteristics, along with the direction of its socioeconomic development, the African continent holds unique potential for establishing national nuclear industries. A number of African countries already see nuclear technology as an integrated means of achieving national technological sovereignty, including the goals set out in Agenda 2063. Where does the nuclear journey begin? How can a country’s existing competencies and resources be harnessed to develop a nuclear industry? What challenges do countries already delivering nuclear projects face?
Technological Cooperation between Russia and Africa for Common Development
Russia and Africa maintain a high level of political and humanitarian engagement, yet technological cooperation is so far developing less intensively. For African states, meanwhile, the question of technological sovereignty is taking on growing importance against a backdrop of heavy dependence on external suppliers of equipment, software, engineering solutions, and digital infrastructure. Energy, industrial automation, agricultural technology, unmanned systems, space monitoring, cybersecurity, the management of critical infrastructure, and the digitalization of public administration are among key priority areas for Africa’s technological development. Russia, for its part, has built up considerable experience over the past decade in import substitution and in developing technological solutions of its own. That experience can be adapted to the needs of African states seeking to reduce their dependence on external suppliers and develop their own technological expertise. National champion companies, along with research, educational, and expert organizations, can play an important part in shaping such a technological partnership. Projects already running within technology hubs are actively developing space technologies, the digitalization of country analysis, as well as knowledge transfer programmes, and can therefore serve as the basis for a practical agenda of cooperation between Russia and Africa. The session will make it possible to assemble a pool of Russian technological solutions best suited to the challenges facing African states and capable of delivering a lasting effect in strengthening engagement between Russia and the countries of Africa. Which Russian technological solutions are most relevant to the development needs of African states? How can Russian experience in import substitution, digitalization, and technological sovereignty be put to use in the interests of African countries? Which forms of company participation might be most effective in delivering joint projects? And through which mechanisms might Russian-African technological and business dialogue develop over the medium and long term?
From Land Degradation to Sustainable Development: Russia–Africa Cooperation on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience
Land degradation, desertification, and drought are among the systemic challenges facing African countries. Declining soil fertility and productivity have a direct impact on agriculture, food security, rural resilience, and socioeconomic development. Restoring degraded lands, maintaining soil fertility, and adopting sustainable land management practices can not only reduce environmental risks but also create new opportunities for agricultural production, attract investment, create jobs, and build sustainable production chains. What promising areas exist for cooperation between Russia and African states on the restoration of degraded lands, drought resilience, and sustainable agriculture?
From Extraction to Prosperity: Subsoil Resources as the Bedrock of National Well-Being
The world is at a stage where meeting the economic needs of all countries requires the intensification of mineral prospecting, exploration, and production activities. It is important to ensure an equitable approach to the exploration and development of Africa’s mineral resources, while guaranteeing the unconditional economic prosperity of African nations and serving the interests of their peoples. State-led geological surveys establish a fundamental knowledge base regarding the subsurface, while private companies carry out targeted exploration and commercialize discoveries. International experience shows that countries with developed partnerships between geological services and the business sector lead the way in discovering deposits and attracting investments. Alongside this, the development of inter-state relations involves creating opportunities to exchange experience and best practices regarding the legal and regulatory framework for the exploration and development of mineral resources, as well as fostering mutually beneficial cooperation on educational programmes and developing and implementing modern technologies for the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials. What is Russia’s experience in carrying out geological exploration and deposit development projects in Africa? What are the advantages of investing in the mineral resource base and deposit development in African countries? What are the plans for the development of national mineral resource complexes in Africa? Which industries are worth investing in over the long term? Is cooperation among leading resource producers possible in economic relations today? Which state support mechanisms are most effective for the development of private geological exploration? What financing and state support instruments are needed to stimulate the development of junior exploration companies? How can a balance between the demand of national economies for mineral resources and the prudent use of subsurface wealth be maintained?
Changing the Perspective: How the Media of the Global Majority Are Shaping the World
Information cooperation among the countries of the Global Majority, including Russia and the countries of Africa, rests on shared values. To advance an objective picture of the world and counter external influence, the parties are developing strategies for disseminating their narratives as widely as possible, along with methods of countering attempts by foreign media to influence domestic politics in Russia and African countries. It is important to identify how engagement between Russian and African media should develop, as well as the central ideas that deserve attention as information cooperation between Russia and Africa expands. How can the voice of the countries of Africa, as well as Russia and the other countries of the Global Majority, be heard around the world? How can attempts by foreign media to influence a country’s domestic politics be countered? What content is of value to audiences in the countries of the Global Majority? How should African and Russian media cooperate in creating and promoting content? What picture of the world is of value to the countries of Africa and to Russia: a multipolar world, cooperation between equals, sovereign equality? What future do the heads of the largest media organizations in Russia and on the continent envisage for relations between Africa and Russia?
Forging Independence: Lessons from the Founders of African States
The prospects for the development of the African continent and its relations with Russia are considered through the prism of the legacy of the great founders who laid down the principles of the struggle for genuine sovereignty. The emergence of a multipolar world order became historically possible in part thanks to the personal courage of leaders ready to fight for their countries’ independence. They gave particular attention to developing the media, both during the period of national liberation and afterwards, in building sovereign states. Today, following the traditions of cooperation between equals, African countries need to develop durable models of partnership across many fields, including the economy, technology, and education, in order to strengthen Africa as an independent centre of power in a multipolar world. What are the essential conditions for countries to attain genuine sovereignty? What is required to preserve it? Are today’s alternative and national media in African countries the direct successors of the radio stations of the decolonization era? Can they prove as effective an instrument against the imposition of global hegemony by the mainstream media as underground radio was in the struggle against apartheid and colonialism? How should the legacy of Africa’s great leaders find expression in the realities of today?
Media Resources as a Tool for Countering Disinformation and Strengthening a Positive Image of Russia and Africa
Through coordinated information policy, Russia and the countries of Africa are effectively resisting dominant Western narratives and the systematic spread of disinformation. At a time when Western mainstream media continue to circulate false narratives about Russia and African states, it is necessary to develop channels of their own capable of bringing audiences objective and reliable content that breaks down stereotypes. What are the key mechanisms of systematic disinformation about Russia and Africa in the Western media, and how do they work? How can a practical mechanism for fact-checking and rapid response be organized to monitor, verify, and promptly refute disinformation? Which specific mechanisms for sharing media resources and which strategies for strengthening a positive image can most effectively counter information attacks? Which practical models of cooperation, from exchanging material and co-producing content to journalist exchanges, should be introduced first? And how should a system be built for training editors and journalists to think critically and develop the skills to recognize fakes?
Understanding the New Challenges Standing before the Media
Amid the growth of infotainment and the mass spread of fakes, the media face the task of maintaining their responsibility to audiences and developing strategies for rapid response in a crisis. A key priority is strengthening the media sovereignty of African countries, which requires breaking down entrenched colonial narratives and advancing regional stories on the global stage. This calls for editorial practices that prevent the reproduction of Western stereotypes and cognitive distortions, along with methods of reducing one-sided information influence. The ultimate aim is to formulate workable approaches that maintain high professional standards as the channels for distributing content undergo rapid transformation. How can journalistic standards be maintained when the target audience prefers infotainment and AI summaries in search results? How are broadcast platforms transforming the way news is presented and the way today’s audiences take it in? How can an audience’s information blindness be overcome, and which formats, including solutions journalism, constructive journalism, podcasts, and closed clubs for the like-minded, can help break through that barrier? How can a rapid protocol for detecting fakes and responding to disinformation be put in place? Which editorial, institutional, and infrastructural steps are needed for regional media to draw first and foremost on their own sources and expertise? What is the most effective strategy for advancing African narratives beyond the region to secure them global reach? How can cognitive distortions and the repetition of learned frames, shaped by Western media over decades, be avoided? How can international cooperation without asymmetry be achieved in practice, so that African newsrooms set the agenda themselves rather than merely following it? How should journalists and editors be trained to critically rethink entrenched narratives?
