Moscow is set to host the third Russia-Africa Summit on 28 and 29 October 2026. Official preparations are underway in the Russian capital for the two-day event. The summit follows previous iterations of the forum held in other Russian cities, as the government continues its diplomatic outreach to African nations. Delegations are expected to arrive in Moscow ahead of the scheduled opening sessions to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional policy. The event serves as the primary platform for Russian engagement with its African partners for the 2026 calendar year. The third Russia-Africa Summit is scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28 and 29, 2026. This summit represents the latest phase in the ongoing diplomatic schedule established by the participating nations.
Preceding Media and Economic Forums
The Russia-Africa Media Forum will take place at the National Center 'Russia' in Moscow on 26 and 27 October 2026. This gathering precedes the main summit sessions and focuses on cooperation within the media sector. The Russia-Africa Media Forum will be held at the National Center 'Russia' in Moscow on October 26 and 27, 2026. Attendees will review collaborative efforts within the media industry, establishing a foundation for the subsequent high-level political meetings.
Following these discussions, the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum is scheduled at the Gostiny Dvor center in Moscow. This event will run on 28 and 29 October 2026. Participants at the Gostiny Dvor center are set to address bilateral economic ties and humanitarian initiatives as part of the broader diplomatic outreach. The Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will be held at the Gostiny Dvor center in Moscow on October 28 and 29, 2026. Both forums serve to facilitate meetings between representatives before the conclusion of the summit events.
Historical Context of Summits
Sochi hosted the first Russia-Africa Summit in 2019. This inaugural event established the foundation for the current diplomatic engagement framework between the Russian government and African nations. The first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi in 2019.
Saint Petersburg served as the location for the second Russia-Africa Summit, which took place in 2023. The second Russia-Africa Summit was held in Saint Petersburg in 2023. Participants reached a formal agreement during these sessions to hold future Russia-Africa summits on a triennial basis. During the second summit, it was agreed that Russia-Africa summits would be held every three years. This decision established the three-year cycle for the high-level gatherings now observed by the participating parties.
Economic cooperation between the two sides has developed alongside these diplomatic meetings. Official records indicate that the total volume of trade between Russia and Africa exceeded 27 billion dollars during the 2025 calendar year. The volume of trade between Russia and Africa exceeded 27 billion dollars during 2025. This figure represents the most recent annual data regarding the exchange of goods and services between the regions, noting the scale of the commercial engagement that the upcoming summit aims to further develop.
