Russia's African Trade Totals $27B as Moscow Hosts Third Summit

The third Russia-Africa summit opened in Moscow on October 28, a meeting that foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called a historic return. The two-day event focuses on economic cooperation, politics, and security. Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks support from the continent to counterbalance Western pressure following the Ukraine war.

Trade data shows a narrow economic base for Moscow's African operations. In 2025, total sales between Russia and all 54 African countries reached $27 billion. This figure represents only 3.9% of Russia's foreign trade. Ivan Klyszcz of the International Centre for Defence and Security noted that South Africa, the continent's largest economy, has small trade volumes with Russia compared to Egypt and Algeria.

Egypt serves as Russia's primary partner on the continent. Bilateral trade more than doubled since 2021, reaching $10.5 billion in 2025. Russian grain and metal products drive these exports, while Egypt sends fruit and vegetables to Russia. Nikita Smagin, a Middle East policy expert, stated that Egypt could become Moscow's gateway to other markets. However, he cautioned that Cairo pursues its own interests rather than offering pure political solidarity.

A major investment project anchors the relationship. Russia is building a nuclear power plant in the Egyptian region of El-Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast. A Russian loan of $25 billion covers approximately 85% of the construction costs. Klyszcz said Russian diplomats are trying to extend relationships with Tanzania and Ethiopia but have not achieved appreciable success so far.

Other global partners maintain larger trade volumes with Africa. The European Union led with $385 billion in trade with African countries in 2025. China followed with over $348 billion, while the United States and India recorded nearly $105 billion and $103 billion, respectively. Fidel Owusu of Geopolitical Intelligence Services observed that middle powers like Turkey are currently outperforming Russia in trade volume and investment types.

Beverly Ochieng of Control Risks noted that Western countries still dominate raw material extraction, finance, and energy. She predicted Russia would compete more intensively for critical mineral resources and energy projects. She cited lithium projects in Mali and nuclear power initiatives across the continent as examples of this growing competition.

Russian military presence remains more visible than its economic footprint. Russian mercenaries, primarily under the Africa Corps, support regimes in the Sahel region. The Africa Corps took over most operations after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Congressional Research Service reported that the largest Russian military contingents are in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya, with each group comprising several thousand men. The Africa Corps also seeks to extend its presence in Burkina Faso and Niger.

Irina Filatova of the University of Cape Town explained that mineral deposits of gold and uranium drive Russia's interest in these regions. She added that Libya serves as a logistical hub for connecting to the Sahel and central Africa. Goods can be supplied via Libya to landlocked countries, allowing Moscow to exert influence over Europe's southern borders regarding migration and regional security.

Russia remains a top arms supplier to the continent. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Moscow's share of the African arms market for 2021 through 2025 at 15%. This places Russia in third position behind the United States at 19% and China at 17%. Between 2020 and 2024, Russia held the top share with 21%, ahead of China and the United States.

Diplomatically, Russia values the number of countries in the African Union for votes in the UN General Assembly. Owusu stated that Russia has performed better in recent UN votes than in earlier years. Putin recently told the Valdai Discussion Club that Russia aims to develop with Africa rather than exploit it as colonial powers did. Filatova noted that while anti-colonial narratives appeal to some elites, perceptions vary widely across the continent, with views in South Africa differing from those in other nations.