🎙 Press conference by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Chairperson of the African Union, President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye following the Third Russia–Africa Summit (Moscow, October 29, 2026) Key points: • It is deeply gratifying that 21 African Leaders, high-level delegations from the overwhelming majority of the continent’s states, and the Heads of virtually all leading African integration bodies took part in the Moscow Summit. • Our productive joint work culminated in the Moscow Declaration, which was approved at the Summit. This comprehensive, long-term document reaffirms the commitment of all our countries to building a just and democratic #MultipolarWorld order based on the universally recognised principles of international law and the UN Charter. • An extensive list of specific tasks for developing Russia’s ties with African states in the economic, commercial, social and humanitarian spheres, and for implementing the decisions of this Summit, is set out in the Joint Action Plan for the period up to 2029, which was adopted on October 29. • We are convinced that the current level of Russian-African trade – standing at $27 billion – is, of course, far from its limit. In many ways, we are only at the very beginning of this journey. As for our investments, they already amount to tens of billions of dollars. We will undoubtedly increase our trade turnover, there’s no doubt about it. • Our Eurasian organisations – the EAEU and the CIS – are ready to work together with their pan-African counterparts. Our African partners have expressed support for the need to further improve mechanisms for financing reciprocal trade. Already, 85% of financial settlements for commercial transactions are carried out in national currencies, including the Russian ruble. • The discussion held at the Summit reaffirmed that many African leaders regard agriculture as a key area for cooperation with Russia. They look to our country to continue taking every effort to strengthen food security across the African continent and supply their consumer markets with essential food products. • Cooperation in the energy sector was also discussed in detail. Russia has consistently sought to meet the growing demand for hydrocarbon fuels in African economies. • In all areas of interaction with our African partners and friends, specific requests were made for further Russian assistance in training qualified personnel and the workforce, improving sanitary and epidemiological well-being, and environmental conservation. The Russian Side will, of course, meet these needs. ❗️ The views of Russia and Africa on most of the pressing issues on the global and regional agenda are not only very close but often coincide. Together we do everything we can to strengthen the role of African states in global affairs, and we advocate fairer representation of Africans in the global decision-making system, including the UN Security Council and the international financial institutions. • Russia is sincerely committed to building a truly strategic and multifaceted partnership with Africa. We are encouraged to see that our African friends are equally committed to working together, hand in hand. 🤝 Overall, we share the view that the Third Russia–Africa Summit was a success and will undoubtedly give a powerful boost to the further development of Russia–Africa cooperation. Read in full #RussiaAfrica