Emphasis on Developing Relations at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow

Numerous leaders of African countries participated in the two-day Russia-Africa summit held in Moscow. In his opening speech at the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew attention to the global transformation, stating that Western domination has come to an end and a multipolar world has become a reality.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in his speech at the summit in Moscow that the era when the continent's destiny was determined by a narrow bloc of states has come to an irreversibly end. Putin called for strengthening Africa's role in decision-making processes within the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. He also emphasized that Russia supplies grain and fertilizer to more than 40 African countries and is ready to expand this supply.

While 48 African nations participated in this week's meeting of the summit, which was first held in 2019 and then in 2023, about 20 of them were represented at the leadership level. Africa, with a population of approximately 1.6 billion and constituting the largest voting bloc in the United Nations, is among Russia's strategic areas of competition alongside the US, Europe, and China.

It is stated that military regimes such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the Sahel region have severed ties with their Western security allies and turned to Russia. It was noted that Africa Corps forces under the command of the Russian Ministry of Defense, which replaced the Wagner group, assisted in countering a mutiny attempt in Niger. While it is estimated that there are between 1,700 and 2,000 Russian mercenaries in the Sahel countries, it is reported that there are approximately 1,000 private contractors in the Central African Republic.