Moscow Opens Summit as Trade With Africa Stalls at $27 Billion

The third Russia-Africa summit opened in Moscow on October 28, focusing on economic cooperation and security. Russian officials framed the gathering as a continuation of ties that began during the 20th century. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the engagement a historic return. The event runs through October 29 and includes discussions on politics, science, and culture.

Trade data released by Russia's Federal Customs Service shows the economic relationship remains concentrated in a few northern nations. Total bilateral trade reached 27 billion US dollars in 2025, representing just 3.9% of Russia's foreign commerce. Egypt alone accounted for 39% of that volume. Ivan Klyszcz, an analyst at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, noted that trade with South Africa is small compared to flows with Egypt and Algeria.

Egypt has become the primary economic partner as bilateral trade more than doubled since 2021. Russian exports to Cairo are driven by grain and metal products, while Egypt ships fruit and vegetables. Russia is financing a nuclear power plant in the El-Dabaa region with a 25 billion US dollar loan, which covers 85% of the project costs. Nikita Smagin, an expert on Russian policy in the Middle East, stated that Cairo pursues its own interests rather than lending support purely out of political solidarity.

Russia's military footprint in Africa is more visible than its commercial reach. Paramilitary forces, now largely under the control of the defense ministry's Africa Corps, are stationed in several Sahel states. The Congressional Research Service reports that the largest Russian contingents are in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya. These forces operate in exchange for access to raw materials such as gold and uranium. Russian mercenaries have also been spotted in Equatorial Guinea.

Western analysts say Russia competes with traditional powers for influence over critical resources. Beverly Ochieng of Control Risks observed that Western countries still dominate raw material extraction, finance, and energy sectors. She noted that Russia is competing more intensively for lithium projects in Mali and nuclear initiatives across the continent. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Moscow held a 15% share of the African arms market from 2021 to 2025, placing it behind the United States and China.

Diplomatically, Russia seeks the voting power of the 54 African nations in the United Nations General Assembly. Fidel Owusu of Geopolitical Intelligence Services said Moscow values the diplomatic weight of the continent's large number of countries. President Vladimir Putin recently told the Valdai Discussion Club that Russia aims to develop together with Africa, contrasting this approach with the goals of former colonial powers.