African leaders head to Moscow for summit as Russia seeks trade and political support

African heads of state are gathering in Moscow for a new summit with Russia. The Kremlin expects delegations from 48 countries to attend, including 22 heads of state. This gathering follows a pattern of attendance that has fluctuated in recent years. In 2019, 43 leaders attended the first summit in Sochi. Attendance dropped to 17 heads of state in 2023, the year after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Beverly Ochieng, an analyst based in Dakar, notes that the economic reasons for attending have weakened. She states that Moscow offers fewer large investment commitments than the United States or China. For many nations, the primary motivation is political. Ochieng argues that political incentives are the main reason these countries are present at the summit.

Military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are key participants. For these regimes, Russia provides immediate support to maintain power. This relationship formed after France was pushed out of the region and Russia stepped in. However, armed groups continue to attack, and Human Rights Watch has accused Russian forces in Mali of killing civilians and torturing detainees.

Russia is also seeking economic opportunities to offset Western sanctions. In Mali, construction has begun on a gold refinery backed by the Yadran Group. The Malian state holds a 62 percent stake in the project. In Guinea, the Russian company Rusal operates bauxite mines and an alumina plant. In Niger, Rosatom subsidiaries are discussing uranium projects with the government following the takeover of a mine formerly run by France's Orano.

Trade volumes between Russia and Africa remain lower than with other major partners. Russia's trade with Africa was about $28 billion in 2025. By comparison, China traded $348 billion with Africa. The European Union exchanged nearly $395 billion in goods with Africa in 2024. Putin recently stated that Russia aims to develop together with Africa rather than steal from it.

Sergey Eledinov, a former Russian officer and security analyst, describes the military bargain as a potential trap. He suggests that by helping governments survive, Moscow gives them room to look for other options. He notes that survival does not create loyalty but creates options. Ochieng adds that Russian flags seen at demonstrations do not indicate widespread pro-Russian sentiment across the continent.

For Moscow, the summit serves as a platform to show its continued political relevance. This is particularly important as the West increasingly views Russia as a pariah state. The event allows the Kremlin to engage directly with African leaders and reinforce its presence on the global stage.