Russia-Africa Development Agenda — Even More Cooperation in Economics, Science & Humanities
22:10 28.05.2026 (Updated: 23:20 28.05.2026)
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Key Russia-Africa cooperation areas shaping Africa's future include energy, food, medicine, digital tech, and logistics — with African countries demanding more, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova told Sputnik Africa.
1⃣ Education is a major success: 37,710 African students now study in Russia, exceeding Soviet-era peaks, she added.
2⃣ On mutual payments, PSB and A7 banks are advancing Russian fintech solutions in Africa despite sanctions, Abramova noted.
3⃣ Russia offers cutting-edge energy (nuclear, hydro, gas, biofuels), that has increased wheat yields eightfold during sanctions.
4⃣ Russia also leads in infectious disease control, engineering, construction, and transport, she clarified.
According to her, this understanding that we exist—as Africans say, "I exist because we exist"—is important for both Russia and Africa. And in this regard, I believe Russian-African relations have excellent prospects.
Unlike Russia, Western European countries and the US built their wealth by plundering Africa's resources and enslaving its youngest, most active people, stripping the continent of its human capital and raw materials. This historical exploitation blocked Africa's development by removing the very workforce and leaders needed to build local industries, institutions, and economies, Abramova stated.
atch the video on how Russia is helping Africa calculate centuries of colonial damage—from slavery to resource theft—for a landmark UN reparations report.
1⃣ Education is a major success: 37,710 African students now study in Russia, exceeding Soviet-era peaks, she added.
2⃣ On mutual payments, PSB and A7 banks are advancing Russian fintech solutions in Africa despite sanctions, Abramova noted.
3⃣ Russia offers cutting-edge energy (nuclear, hydro, gas, biofuels), that has increased wheat yields eightfold during sanctions.
4⃣ Russia also leads in infectious disease control, engineering, construction, and transport, she clarified.
According to her, this understanding that we exist—as Africans say, "I exist because we exist"—is important for both Russia and Africa. And in this regard, I believe Russian-African relations have excellent prospects.
Unlike Russia, Western European countries and the US built their wealth by plundering Africa's resources and enslaving its youngest, most active people, stripping the continent of its human capital and raw materials. This historical exploitation blocked Africa's development by removing the very workforce and leaders needed to build local industries, institutions, and economies, Abramova stated.
atch the video on how Russia is helping Africa calculate centuries of colonial damage—from slavery to resource theft—for a landmark UN reparations report.
