‘Economic incentives are limited’: What does Russia really offer Africa?

What happened: African leaders are gathering in Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit, with the Kremlin expecting delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state. Key numbers: 43 heads of state attended the 2019 Sochi summit; 17 came to St Petersburg in 2023; Russia-Africa trade was about $28bn in 2025 Why it matters: Analyst Beverly Ochieng says economic incentives to attend are "much more limited" than at US-Africa and China-Africa summits, making political incentives the primary reason countries go. For Moscow, the summit is a chance to show continued "political relevance.

African leaders are gathering in Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit, with the Kremlin expecting delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state.

Analyst Beverly Ochieng says economic incentives to attend are "much more limited" than at US-Africa and China-Africa summits, making political incentives the primary reason countries go. For Moscow, the summit is a chance to show continued "political relevance.