Russia to unlock Africa’s ‘huge potential’ – Lavrov

Cooperation with the continent is steadily developing across multiple areas, the foreign minister has said

Russia is committed to unlocking the full potential of cooperation with African countries, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Speaking at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo on Saturday, he said ties between Moscow and African nations are steadily expanding.

“Russian-African partnership is developing steadily across all areas, with substantive and trusting political dialogue continuing at the highest levels,” Lavrov said at the opening plenary session, noting that trade with Africa rose 13% last year to nearly $28 billion. He added that economic cooperation and humanitarian ties are strengthening. “This is far from the limit. We are committed to fully unlocking the huge potential of our practical cooperation.”

Lavrov said Moscow has invited African partners to explore opportunities in the country’s markets, highlighting strong prospects for boosting trade with sub-Saharan countries by building direct links with Russian counterparts.

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He added that Moscow sees national-currency settlement mechanisms with African countries as key to “ensuring stable trade and economic transactions and protecting investments,” noting a steady rise in the share of ruble settlements in mutual trade.

Beyond economic ties, Russia is helping African countries strengthen security, particularly in counterterrorism efforts, Lavrov said. He added that Russia has invited African countries without embassies in Moscow to open diplomatic missions, noting earlier this week that Botswana and Togo plan to do so.

The conference, attended by representatives from more than 50 African states, is being held in Cairo December 19-20 ahead of the third Russia-Africa summit in 2026. Created at a landmark summit in Sochi in 2019, the forum reflects Moscow’s renewed push to deepen ties with Africa as many countries seek alternatives to the West. This year’s conference – the first ministerial-level gathering of its kind held in Africa – focuses on expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

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On the sidelines of the conference, Lavrov held bilateral talks with diplomats from several attending countries, including host nation Egypt, Tanzania, Namibia, and Gambia, all of which expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Russia. Further meetings are expected with delegations from Algeria, Tunisia, and Rwanda, among others.