On November 9-10, Sochi hosted the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum at Sirius University. Instituted by a decision of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in July 2023, this new dialogue format is called on to become a certain coordinating mechanism for implementing objectives set by the heads of state and government.
Along with heads of foreign policy agencies and executive agencies of integration associations, the event brought together sectoral ministers as well as representatives of parliamentary, public, academic and business circles of Russia and African countries, with over 1,500 people attended the event.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired a plenary session, the conference’s high-priority event that involved 54 heads of official delegations from African states and regional integration associations. At the beginning of the plenary session, they read out greetings from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Chair of the African Union – President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
The ministers coordinated their positions on key issues of the international agenda as well as the Russian-African agenda, prioritising the implementation of the action plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2023-2026. Also, they specified and coordinated long-term guidelines for expanding mutual collaboration still further.
Four joint statements, including a political statement as well as three sectoral statements on international information security, counter-terrorism measures and the peaceful use of outer space formalised common approaches towards addressing global problems and expanding cooperation with a focus on quality preparations for the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit.
The conference’s packed business programme, including 20 panel sessions and specialised events, provided an additional impetus for diverse mutually beneficial cooperation. Experts and high-ranking guests discussed various high-priority issues in great detail, including food security and collaboration in the agro-industrial sector, training specialists for the real economy, geological prospecting, digitalisation, and cooperation in education, healthcare and youth policy.
Representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission and various African associations discussed mutual integration issues. Elaborating on the provisions of the Declaration of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, the sides held specialised meetings on international information security, counter-terrorism efforts, and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. Representatives of Russian and African media outlets took part in an event on measures to combat the manifestations of neo-colonialism.
Sergey Lavrov met separately with most African delegations on the sidelines of the conference. The officials signed an extensive package of memorandums and agreements between Russia and a number of African states.
