Russia to expand ties with Africa in ‘sensitive’ sectors – Peskov
Moscow plans to scale up military and security cooperation with African countries as part of a wider push to deepen ties with the continent, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has announced.
The Kremlin spokesman made the statement at a press briefing on Monday, where he noted Russia’s growing presence in Africa.
“We intend to comprehensively develop our interaction with African countries, focusing primarily on economic and investment interaction. And this cooperation also extends to sensitive areas related to defense and security. In this regard, Russia will also continue interaction and cooperation with African states,” Peskov said, according to RIA Novosti.
Moscow has positioned itself as a strategic ally to African states across military, economic, and diplomatic spheres in recent years. Russian officials have said deepening ties with the continent is among the Kremlin’s top foreign policy priorities.
Several African governments, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, have increasingly turned to Russia for security cooperation, describing it as a more reliable partner than Western powers. The transitional authorities in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have severed defense ties with France, accusing the former colonial power of aggression and threatening their sovereignty.
Speaking at an Africa Day event in Moscow last month, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia remains a reliable and steadfast partner to African nations in their efforts to strengthen sovereignty, which he said is undermined by neocolonial practices.
Aside from military partnerships, Moscow intends to expand its diplomatic footprint in Africa, with embassies set to open in Comoros, Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. A Russian Consulate General is also scheduled to be established in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in late May.
According to official figures, trade between Russia and Africa has also experienced “dynamic growth,” surpassing $27.7 billion in 2024. At the same time, the number of African students enrolling in Russian universities has reportedly continued to rise. Last month, Lavrov described education as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation, announcing that more than 32,000 African students are currently studying in Russia.
