Русский
Moscow is close to completing its diplomatic network in Africa, with four new embassies set to open in the near future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. Speaking at the 46th meeting of the Foreign Ministry’s Council of the Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation on Wednesday, Lavrov said that only a few African countries don’t have permanent Russian missions.
“Currently, there are 45 Russian embassies operating on the continent, and four more will open soon. There will literally be four or five countries where we have yet to establish full-fledged embassies, and then we will completely cover the entire African continent with our diplomatic presence.”
Russia expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa last year, reopening embassies in Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. In January, Lavrov said the total number of Russian missions on the continent would reach 49 once new embassies open in Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros. There are 54 countries in Africa, 53 of which are members of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The Russian foreign minister also pointed to growing regional engagement, noting that most Russian federal entities are already involved in cooperation with African partners. Lavrov stated that 81 Russian regions also have direct cooperation channels with African countries.
Lavrov also said that preparations are underway for the third Russia-Africa Summit, expected to take place in Moscow on October 28/29. Lavrov noted that a new Russia-Africa cooperation roadmap through to 2029 is likely to be approved at the event.
We can compare Russia’s diplomatic presence across Africa with other countries and regions as follows:
| Country/Region | Number of Embassies in Africa |
| Russia | 49 |
| European Union | 51 |
| United States | 52 |
| China | 53 |
| United Kingdom | 38 |
Russia-African continental trade is rapidly growing and reached about US$27.7 billion in 2025, driven by a surge in African agricultural exports, including coffee and fruit, to Russia. While Russian exports to Africa fell slightly, agricultural exports like poultry, dairy, and wheat continued to grow. Russia is deepening its foothold through increasing its investment projects in sectors such as mining, energy, and defense.
