Russian-African relations in a new era of unity and mutual learning

At a time when the African continent commemorates Africa Day on 25 May - a moment that marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 - the evolving relationship between Africa and Russia deserves renewed reflection and forward-looking dialogue.

This year the Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian House) under the leadership of Yevgeniya Primakova the younger man held an internet conference with African journalists to discuss the expansion of cooperation between Russia and Africa. The timing and tone of the conference highlighted the paradigm shift from historical solidarity to modern strategic partnership.

Russia's ties with Africa date back to the Soviet era, when the USSR staunchly supported anti-colonial movements across the continent. At a time when most of Africa was emerging from the arbitrary partition of the 1884 Berlin Conference, itself a blueprint for colonial fragmentation, the Soviet Union supported liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and other countries, providing education, military training and diplomatic support.

Today, in the post-Soviet era, Russia's role is changing from ideological solidarity to pragmatic cooperation. This is evident in the work of Rossotrudnichestvo - the Federal Agency for the Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation - which has become a key engine of Russian humanitarian diplomacy. Under Primakov, an experienced journalist and diplomat, the agency focuses on education, culture, food security, science and technology.

During the virtual press conference, journalists from more than a dozen African countries - from South Africa to Mali, from Egypt to Côte d'Ivoire - asked questions that reflected a common theme: the need for more effective and efficient cooperation. Although each of Africa's 54 countries has unique bureaucracies and protocols, the call for regional integration and African unity is growing louder. As Primakov rightly noted, working with a more unified Africa through regional blocs such as SADC, ECOWAS, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could greatly improve the effectiveness and impact of Russian initiatives.

It is no longer possible for development to depend on aid schemes that often reinforce dependency. Instead, partnerships based on mutual respect, common development goals and joint ventures in sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and technology are more mutually beneficial. Russia's technical expertise and Africa's untapped potential represent a promising frontier for sustainable development.

In addition to economics, Russia and Africa have deep cultural ties. The Rossotrudnichestvo initiative known as "Russian House" has become a platform for cultural exchange. From Russian classical ballet and opera to African oral storytelling, dance and indigenous knowledge systems, there is a huge opportunity for mutual learning and enrichment. Russian cultural greats - writers like Tolstoy, filmmakers like Tarkovsky and composers like Tchaikovsky - share the same timeless appeal as African griots, artisans and philosophers. The African origin of Alexander Pushkin, a Russian literary icon, is another symbol of this unique cultural intersection.

As Primakov recalled, these cultural exchanges can extend to "food solidarity", an emerging field that links agricultural science, culinary heritage and food security. Russia's advances in biotechnology and Africa's traditional expertise in sustainable agriculture offer fertile ground for cooperation.

This year is also an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Yevgeny Primakov Sr., a distinguished statesman, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Russia in the critical post-Soviet period. Primakov was a skilled Arabist and master strategist, advocating multipolar diplomacy and strengthening Russia's relations with the global South. His legacy is being carried on by his grandson, who is now building bridges with Africa not through coercion or domination, but through dialogue, education and cultural respect.

At a time when Africa is celebrating its unity and liberation, the dynamics of continental integration are merging with the more mature, respectful and cooperative foreign policies of partners such as Russia. Regional cooperation within Africa is essential - not only to reduce the complexity of engaging 54 individual countries, but also to strengthen Africa's collective voice on the global stage.

25 May, Africa Day, is more than a symbolic anniversary - it is a call to action. It is a call for Africans to unite and for global partners like Russia to engage not only in individual countries, but in a growing, united Africa that seeks mutual growth and dignified cooperation. It is in this spirit that Russian-African relations can truly enter a new era - based on history, enriched by culture and driven by a shared future.

Kirtan Bhana, Diplomatic Society

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