🎙 Address by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the Plenary Session of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum (Moscow, October 28, 2026) Key points: • The Russia–Africa Forum, its agenda and participants, and its free and open dialogue fit naturally into the global transformation, the scale and depth of which can hardly be overstated. We are witnessing a #MultipolarWorld truly becoming a reality, and this trend is objective and irreversible. • The era when the destinies of entire continents were determined by a narrow bloc of states is coming to an irrevocable end. A fairer world is taking its place, one in which the voices of all countries participating in international affairs must be heard. New centres of global governance are emerging, becoming focal points for reshaping the world order. • Over the past five years, the #BRICS countries have accounted for more than 40% of global GDP, while the G7’s contribution has been less than 30%. There is no doubt that this balance will continue to shift in favour of developing countries. • Africa is increasingly asserting itself as one of the poles of the global economy and politics. The continent is experiencing a new awakening: its sovereignty is growing stronger, and its influence and standing on the world stage are increasing. Above all, Africans have an unshakeable determination to defend their interests and a desire to shape their own future and choose their own path of development. 💬 Let me recall the words of Thomas Sankara, a great son of the Burkinabe people, the first President of Burkina Faso: Debt is neo-colonialism, in which colonizers have transformed themselves into “technical assistants”. Under its current form, controlled and dominated by imperialism, debt is a skillfully managed reconquest of Africa, intended to subjugate its growth and development through foreign rules. • It is no coincidence that Africa is called the continent of the future. According to UN projections, from 2030 onwards, the centre of global population growth will inevitably shift to Africa – a process that is already under way. By 2050, its population will exceed 2.5 billion, around 70% of whom will be young people under the age of 30. • Russia is one of the most reliable guarantors of food security on the African continent. More than 40 African countries already receive Russian fertilisers and grain. We stand ready to further expand the geographical reach of our agricultural supplies. In the first nine months of 2026, Russia exported 13 million tonnes of agricultural products to Africa. • Russia firmly maintains a leading position in the global race for technological sovereignty. I would like to emphasise that our country is ready to share its advanced expertise and high-tech digital know-how with our African friends. • Our shared interest lies in improving Africans’ access to affordable, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources and helping develop domestic energy markets in Africa, including in areas where Russia possesses unique technologies. This work is already under way. More than 30 promising energy projects are being jointly implemented in 16 African countries. • Since 2020, the number of African students studying in Russia has increased by 50%, while the number of Russian scholarships for Africa has almost tripled. A record number of citizens of African countries – around 40,000 – are studying at Russian universities. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the scholarship quota has been increased to 5,500 places. ❗️ Russia is sincerely interested in further developing and deepening trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation with all African countries in every possible way. Read in full #RussiaAfrica