St. Petersburg, Russia, became the center of international attention during the Second Summit of Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, held on July 27–28, 2023. The momentous occasion showcased the growing ties between Russia and African nations and emphasized their commitment to strengthening cooperation on various fronts. With the theme of jointly building a new, fairer multipolar world order, the summit brought together leaders, diplomats, and experts to discuss pressing global challenges and explore opportunities for mutual collaboration.
Over the course of the event, 59 panel sessions featuring 457 speakers covered four main areas: the New Global Economy, Cooperation in Science and Technology, the Humanitarian and Social Sphere, and Integrated Security and Sovereign Development. The discussions revolved around promoting sovereign equality among nations and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.
Central to the summit’s outcomes were five key documents adopted to address critical global issues. These documents included the Declaration of the Second Russia-Africa Summit, the Declaration on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, the Declaration on Cooperation to Ensure International Information Security, and the Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation to Combat Terrorism. Additionally, the Action Plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2023–2026 was agreed upon, outlining the roadmap for future collaboration.
In a significant display of commitment, two Memoranda of Understanding were signed with leading African integration associations in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The first MoU, between the Russian Government and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), addressed fundamental issues concerning relations and cooperation. The second MoU was signed with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), further bolstering relations and cooperation between Russia and the region.
The Second Russia-Africa Summit marks a significant milestone in Russian-African relations, as it seeks to establish a higher level of comprehensive and equitable cooperation to address the demands of the 21st century. The summit’s overarching objective is to foster collaborative efforts across various domains, including politics, security, economics, science and technology, and humanitarian exchanges.
This summit follows the historic First Russia-Africa Summit, which took place in Sochi on October 23–24, 2019. Themed “For Peace, Security, and Development,” the inaugural summit laid the foundation for concrete achievements in the years to come, identifying priority areas of economic cooperation and setting ambitious goals for advancing Russian-African collaboration.
As the summit concluded, a closing declaration outlined the agreed-upon goals and objectives, reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening ties and cooperation between Russia and African nations across diverse domains.