The first Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum, held in Sochi, Russia October 23–34, 2019, focused on joint development in politics, security, the economy, science, technology, culture and humanitarian fields.

Russia-Africa Summit Introduction Video

The unprecedented event attracted more than 6000 delegates from 104 countries, including all 54 countries of the African continent present, with 45 represented by their head of state.

A total of 92 agreements, contracts ,and memoranda of understanding were signed at the summit, worth a total of RUB 1.004 trillion.

“The development and consolidation of mutually beneficial ties with African nations and t

heir integration associations is now one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A final declaration adopted at the Summit by the participants outlined a set of 47 goals and objectives for further development of Russian-African cooperation.

The Summit rolled out a comprehensive strategic roadmap outlining concrete economic sectors for investment. Main areas identified included energy (including renewables), infrastructure development (especially railway and housing construction), modern and high-tech extraction and processing of mineral resources, agriculture, digital technologies, oil and gas exploration, medicine, science and education.

This is the first time in the history of modern Russia that an event of this kind has been held at such a high level, and it is unprecedented in the history of Russian-African relations,” according to event organizer Roscongress.

A Declaration, adopted at the event, defined specific issues related to trade and culture for Africa and it set goals and objectives for further development of Russian-African cooperation in politics, security, and the economy, and in scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian fields.

No placement of weapons in space

Notably, given the recent signing of the U.S. Space Force into law on Dec. 20, the Summit discussions and declarations are especially timely: The Declaration included joint work aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space and promoting a variety of constructive international cooperative initiatives toward maintaining the peaceful use of outer space.

To that end, the declaration supported “efforts aimed at developing a legally binding multilateral instrument” — a draft treaty intended to “prevent the placement of weapons in outer space, the use of force, or the threat of force against space objects … and establishing reliable guarantees of non-placement of weapons of any kind in near-Earth orbit.”

The Declaration reaffirmed that the Russian Federation and African States will make every possible effort to prevent outer space from becoming an arena for military confrontation and will ensure security of outer space activities, while noting that the Russian Federation’s declared policy is to not be the first to place weapons in outer space.

The Declaration also called upon all space-faring nations to follow the Russian Federation’s example: to explore opportunities for collaboration between the Russian Federation and African States in peaceful use of outer space, and to facilitate cooperation and exchange of technical data with the African Space Agency.

Specific plans for such collaboration, mentioned in the declaration, include:

• Support efforts aimed at developing a legally binding multilateral instrument establishing reliable guarantees of non-placement of weapons of any kind in Earth orbit. This is based on a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, and on the threat or use of force against outer space objects.
• Non-deployment of the first weapons in space, making every effort to obstruct transformation of space into an arena of military confrontation and ensuring the safety of space activities.
• Study the possibilities of cooperation between the Russian Federation and African states in the peaceful uses of outer space and develop cooperation and exchange of technical data with the 12 space agencies in Africa.
• Work together to prevent an arms race in outer space. Cooperate within relevant international organizations and fora to foster various constructive initiatives to promote peaceful use of outer space.
• Consider the opportunities for scientific and technical cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space.

BRICS-African partnership

The Declaration also committed to “promote deepening of the BRICS–Africa partnership, interaction between the BRICS and African states, and strengthening the collective mechanisms of global governance within the framework of a multipolar system of international relations.”

That partnership has established a “significant role of developing countries and countries with emerging markets, as well as contributing to their sustainable social-economic development in the conditions of the fourth industrial revolution,” according to event organizers.

Scientific, Technical, Humanitarian, and Information Cooperation

In addition, the Declaration also focused on cooperation in joint research projects, greater collaboration among universities and major research centers of the Russian Federation and the African States, organizing scientific conferences and seminars; and encouraging further exchanges, joint training, and cooperation in the academic field, as well as in culture, education, technology, sports, health care, tourism, and mass media.

That collaboration is especially aimed at strengthening national health care systems and improving ways to combat epidemics, pandemics, and other public health challenges; improving the quality of basic medical services; increasing scientific research and development; and providing greater economic capacity of health-care service providers.

The collaboration is also aimed at cooperation in preventing and mitigating natural disasters and epidemics, ways of strengthening cooperation in such fields as humanitarian assistance, natural disaster prevention and mitigation, monitoring and forecasting emergencies, and combatting climate change, drought and desertification, including strengthening efforts to address climate change in Africa, transfer necessary technologies, and develop the capacities and enhance the abilities of African States to build resilience against the negative impact of climate change.

Extensive participation by Russian and African representatives and media

The Russia–Africa Economic Summit and Forum was attended by more than 10,000 participants and media representatives from Russia and 104 foreign countries and territories. 109 foreign ministers and eminent representatives of international business participated in the event.

Among the participants were over 1,100 representatives of international business, around 1,400 representatives of Russian business, over 1,900 members of official foreign delegations and over 300 Russian delegation members.  Delegates included 120 Foreign Affairs ministers, more than 1900 representatives of official foreign delegations, and 1400 representatives of Russian official business.

The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum was covered by around 800 media representatives (over 500 Russian and 250 international) representing 43 foreign countries, according to event organizer Roscongress Foundation. Russia–Africa News Agencies provided a platform for discussion of the media’s role in Russian–African relations. Eight of the largest African integration associations and organizations.

The next Russia–Africa Economic Forum event will be held in 2022.