Putin tells Russia-Africa summit Russia is Africa's best partner, criticises Western lending

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on 28 October 2026. The two-day event brings together delegations from 48 African countries. France 24 and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) say 22 African leaders are attending. Al Jazeera says 22 countries are represented by their heads of state.

In his speech, Putin said Russia is Africa's best partner. He accused a West he described as colonial of still trying to exploit Africa's resources and of using debt to hold back the continent's development.

Putin is due to hold one-on-one talks with individual African leaders. Topics include trade, security, arms deals and grain supplies. The summit was first held in 2019.

France 24 and SCMP describe the event as part of a concerted Russian push for political, economic and military influence in Africa. They say fighters from Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps remain active on the continent, and that Russian state companies are seeking interests in sectors from mining to power generation.

Context

According to Al Jazeera, attacks in the Black Sea continue to disrupt grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, and the United States-Israel war on Iran has interrupted global fertiliser supplies. Al Jazeera also reports that the summit is expected to end with a final declaration on deeper cooperation. According to France 24, courting leaders from the Global South has been an important part of Moscow's strategy to counterbalance Western pressure over the war in Ukraine.

What each side says

Putin spoke of "active attempts by Western countries" to push Africans back into debt by forcing them to accept needed funds on predatory terms. He did not name the countries. France 24 and Al Jazeera quoted him as saying Russian business "does not engage in the predatory, neo-colonial exploitation of natural and human resources, but rather expands the processing of raw materials locally, thereby creating new jobs and generating tax revenue".

Putin said Russia supplied 13 million metric tonnes of agricultural products to Africa in the first nine months of 2026. He said Russia is ready to supply grain and fertiliser to more than the 40 African countries that now receive them. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not independently verify these figures.

According to France 24, Western governments say Russian paramilitary forces have supported military juntas, such as the one in Mali, to extend Moscow's influence and push out former colonial powers such as France. Moscow rejects those claims.

The reports do not include statements from African leaders or a Western response to the speech. France 24 credits Reuters; Al Jazeera and SCMP do not name a wire source in their reports.

Analysis

The summit shows Moscow presenting itself as an alternative economic and security partner for African states, with a focus on debt, food and local processing of raw materials. How far this resonates may depend on outcomes not yet described in the reports, such as any agreements from the bilateral talks and the content of the final declaration. Western governments could respond to Putin's criticism or leave it unanswered. African governments may weigh Russian offers against existing ties with Western lenders and other partners. The views of the attending African leaders, which the reports do not include, would likely be important in judging the summit's impact.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.