{"id":19896,"date":"2026-07-08T17:35:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T11:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=19896"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T11:50:24","slug":"russia-and-african-union-agree-to-expand-strategic-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=19896","title":{"rendered":"Russia and African Union Agree to Expand Strategic Partnership<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Russia and the African Union have agreed to expand cooperation in security, trade, industry, energy, healthcare, education, finance and humanitarian affairs, while strengthening coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms.<\/p>\n

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf made the commitment following high-level consultations held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 7.<\/p>\n

According to a joint statement issued by the African Union, the talks reviewed existing Russia\u2013African Union cooperation and included an open and constructive exchange on the changing global geopolitical environment, reform of multilateral institutions and major peace and security challenges facing Africa and the wider international community.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a joint news conference, Lavrov said Russia and the African Union shared a common interest in broadening cooperation across a wide range of mutually beneficial sectors, including security, finance, industry, trade, education, energy, healthcare, culture and sport.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said Youssouf had placed particular emphasis on cooperation in healthcare.<\/p>\n

The two sides discussed possible Russian support for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in areas including infectious-disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, scientific research, health workforce development and emergency response.<\/p>\n

The African Union\u2019s joint statement expressed concern over Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and their potential regional implications.<\/p>\n

Russia and the African Union said they would explore stronger cooperation in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, scientific research and public-health capacity.<\/p>\n

The consultations also considered new opportunities in energy access, transport connectivity, industrial development, digital technology, food security and infrastructure construction.<\/p>\n

The African Union welcomed Russia\u2019s investment, humanitarian assistance and support in education, healthcare, food security and capacity development.<\/p>\n

Russia said it would align future cooperation programmes with the African Union\u2019s long-term development framework, Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the continent\u2019s industrialisation and economic transformation priorities.<\/p>\n

Both sides stressed the importance of expanding direct links between government institutions, private companies and business organisations to promote trade and investment based on mutual benefit.<\/p>\n

They also highlighted the need for African countries to move beyond exporting agricultural products and mineral resources mainly as raw materials by increasing local processing and value addition.<\/p>\n

The talks addressed the need to make the global financial architecture more inclusive, equitable and transparent so that it better reflects the realities and development requirements of emerging and developing countries.<\/p>\n

Both sides noted that African states continue to face high debt burdens, expensive capital, limited access to concessional financing and vulnerability to external economic shocks.<\/p>\n

Russia and the African Union called for wider access to affordable and long-term development financing.<\/p>\n

They supported reform of multilateral development banks, increased financial flows to developing countries and consideration of project financing in national currencies.<\/p>\n

The two sides also emphasised the importance of ensuring uninterrupted supplies of food, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to African markets.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said crises in Africa should be addressed in strict accordance with the principle of \u201cAfrican solutions to African problems,\u201d adding that Russia would continue assisting its African partners in this direction.<\/p>\n

According to the joint statement, the consultations included exchanges on the situations in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, Sudan, South Sudan and Libya.<\/p>\n

Both sides said political dialogue, diplomacy and African-led mediation and peacebuilding processes should be given priority.<\/p>\n

Russia reiterated its position that the sovereignty, independent decision-making capacity and leadership of the countries and regional organisations concerned should be respected instead of relying on external interference or unilateral pressure.<\/p>\n

The parties also supported predictable and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations authorised by the United Nations Security Council.<\/p>\n

Russia and the African Union agreed to strengthen coordination between the Russian delegation and the African A3, the group of three elected African members serving on the UN Security Council.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said the current international power structure did not adequately reflect Africa\u2019s population, political importance or the growing role of the developing world.<\/p>\n

He reaffirmed Russia\u2019s support for increasing Africa\u2019s representation on the Security Council in accordance with the African common position set out in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.<\/p>\n

The African common position calls for at least two permanent and five non-permanent Security Council seats for the continent.<\/p>\n

Although the African Union opposes the veto in principle, it maintains that as long as the mechanism continues to exist, any new permanent African members should receive the same rights as existing permanent members.<\/p>\n

The two sides reviewed progress under the memorandum on the foundations of relations and cooperation signed in 2019, the Russia\u2013Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan for 2023\u20132026 and the current cooperation plan between Russia and the African Union Commission.<\/p>\n

They agreed to prepare a new three-year action plan for 2027\u20132029 and hold high-level political consultations at least once a year.<\/p>\n

The next round of consultations is expected to take place in 2027 at a date and venue to be agreed by both sides.<\/p>\n

The parties also discussed preparations for the third Russia\u2013Africa Summit, scheduled to be held in Moscow on October 28 and 29, 2026.<\/p>\n

Both sides expressed confidence that the summit would give new momentum to cooperation in trade, investment, peace, security, energy, healthcare and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

During the question-and-answer session at the joint news conference, Lavrov was asked about Western media reports disputing Russia\u2019s claim that its forces had taken control of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region.<\/p>\n

The Russian Defence Ministry announced on July 3 that Russian forces had established full control over Konstantinovka.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian military rejected the claim and said Ukrainian forces continued to defend the city.<\/p>\n

The question of full control over Konstantinovka therefore remained disputed internationally.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said the most convincing response to the controversy was the Russian military\u2019s invitation to the Ukrainian side to enter Konstantinovka and collect the bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen.<\/p>\n

According to Lavrov, Russia proposed a local ceasefire and media access to facilitate the transfer of the bodies.<\/p>\n

The Russian Defence Ministry said it had offered a six-hour temporary ceasefire, but that the Ukrainian side declined the proposal.<\/p>\n

Ukraine questioned Russia\u2019s account and maintained that the city remained under Ukrainian control.<\/p>\n

Because immediate and fully independent verification from the location was not available, the competing claims remained unresolved.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said about 20 foreign news agencies had expressed interest in travelling to Konstantinovka to witness the transfer of the bodies.<\/p>\n

He argued that Ukraine\u2019s rejection of the proposal prevented journalists from observing the situation in the city directly and determining which side controlled it.<\/p>\n

Asked about joint mechanisms to expose false information, Lavrov referred to an international fact-checking network that brings together journalists and specialists from more than 50 countries.<\/p>\n

He said the network uses investigative journalism to identify and expose false or misleading claims and was expected to mark its second anniversary later in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Russia\u2013African Union consultations reflected an effort to connect political understanding with practical programmes in trade, healthcare, energy, education and security.<\/p>\n

Both sides reaffirmed sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, international law and the United Nations Charter as the foundations of their partnership.<\/p>\n

The African Union presented its relationship with Russia as a partnership that could contribute to peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity across the continent.<\/p>\n

Russia, for its part, pledged continued support for Africa\u2019s independent decision-making, fairer representation in global institutions and African-led development and security priorities.<\/p>\n

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