Russia-Africa trade reached US$35 billion in 2025 with Russian exports including grain, dairy, and poultry exports, while African agricultural imports (coffee, fruit) to Russia also surged. Key areas include agricultural goods, military contracts, and nuclear energy, with Russia actively reducing trade barriers and diversifying into the processed foods and high-tech sectors. We cover Russia-Africa trade, investment, and market entry opportunities and provide your guide to navigating the commercial landscape and forging strategic partnerships for growth in Africa’s emerging markets.
Russian President Putin has given the Penary Speech at the 2026 Russia-Africa Summit, at which 46 African government and business delegations are attending. Putin called for more commerce and investment in Africa, noting that trade with Russia had risen by 50% over the past three years. We examine the key points in his comments.
The director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Partnership with Africa, Tatyana Dovgalenko, has been meeting with the Economic Ministers of the Sahel countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. She said that the common tasks for the countries at present are stimulating investment growth and launching infrastructure initiatives in line with the needs of the Alliance of Sahel States countries in the energy, agriculture, logistics and extractive industries.
The Russian and Moroccan Foreign Ministers have held a phone discussion ahead of a crucial United Nations Security Council resolution concerning the future of the Western Sahara. We examine the key issues at stake in a potential regional adjustment that could see Morocco gain full control of an area comprising 272,000 square kilometres with a population of 600,000. We also discuss the latest bilateral trade data.
The 2026 Russia Energy Week has just concluded in Moscow, with about 6,600 participants and executives from 85 countries attending. The event combines energy trade discussions with industrial modernisation, nuclear technology exports, engineering cooperation and investment opportunities across Asian and other international markets. We examine what happened and the deals made.
Russia’s trade with Oman is undergoing a substantial transformation due to an increasing INSTC interconnectivity, a more liberal regulatory and financial policy than the UAE, and the potential to reach out to other Middle Eastern, South Asian and East African export markets. We examine why bilateral trade is taking off and the underlying drivers.
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Russia has been looking to expand and develop its trade with African nations, sometimes with mixed results. Progress has tended to be made with Russian exports of energy products, fertilizers and agriculture, yet offset by logistics difficulties, a lack of trade supporting mechanisms, a lack of investment, the threat of secondary sanctions on African exporters, and security issues concerning Black Sea shipping. In this article we examine Russia’s trade with Togo.
The 2026 Digital Solutions Forum and the 2nd Global Digital Forums have taken place in Moscow with 1,300 attendees from 111 countries, creating opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, telecommunications, digital infrastructure and software. 170 agreements were signed. Russia’s digital industry generated aggregate turnover exceeded US$250.5 billion in 2025, an increase of nearly 20% year on year, while the communications-services market expanded by 13% to reach US$30 billion. We deep dive the events to showcase where the digital economy in going and which countries are cooperating with Russia in its development. This article is of primary interest to anyone involved in digital economic development in the Global South.
Russia’s exports of herring to Egypt have undergone a massive surge, from 100 tonnes in H1 2025 to 5,600 tonnes in H1 2026. The fish is a standard ingredient in many Egyptian dishes such as Renga bel Tahini. The overall African demand for herring is expected to triple by 2030.
Russia’s agricultural exports to South Africa have reached US$53 million in 9M 226, with wheat making up the bulk of the trade, along with instant coffee and millet. Total bilateral trade could exceed US$1 billion for the first time by the end of this year.
Mali’s Transport and Logistics Company has signed a US$51.5 million deal with KAMAZ to buy a range of trucks to improve its transport and logistics infrastructure. The deal provides the vehicles and could be extended to localise production and train maintenance engineers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held an intensive Q&A session at the recent Valdai Club event in Moscow. He covered multiple issues including the differences between the collapse of the USSR and the current situation within Russia, Kaliningrad, the use of nuclear weapons, NATO, the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Russian prior attempts to integrate into Europe, the international maritime rule of law, Iran, the development of the Donbass, China, differences between Russia and Chinese culture, Japan, President Trump, Serbia, India, nuclear proliferation, Italy, the European Union, EU asset returns, a new Iron Curtain, Palestine, BRICS, APEC, Israel, Artificial Intelligence, UN reform, the Northern Sea Route, the Russian economy, Russia-Africa relations, Switzerland, Ukraine, updates on the Ukraine conflict and the potential for movement into a new political direction. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Russia’s global views on Russian and international affairs.
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