Moscow, this afternoon. Africa’s mineral and agricultural wealth, and the prosperity of its more than a billion people, stood at the centre of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission told world leaders that the continent’s natural resources must deliver real, measurable gains for its citizens rather than leaving Africa at the bottom of the global value chain.
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the AU Commission Chairperson, addressed the summit’s plenary session, co-chaired by H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union. He read the strong turnout of African Heads of State and Government as a signal in itself: their presence reflects the importance they attach to strengthening cooperation and advancing mutually beneficial relations with Russia.
At the heart of his message sat a concern that touches everyday life across the continent. Africa holds vast agricultural and mineral resources, yet too often the benefits flow elsewhere. The Chairperson stressed the need to promote local processing, value addition and industrialisation so that African countries can capture more of that value, turning raw wealth into jobs, industry and tangible benefits for the continent’s population.
Access to finance formed a second pillar. He emphasised the importance of equitable and favourable access to international capital markets to support Africa’s development ambitions, and welcomed the establishment of the African Credit Rating Agency as a step towards strengthening the continent’s financial sovereignty and addressing persistent challenges in credit ratings. He went further, calling for comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture so that it becomes more equitable, inclusive and responsive to the development needs of African countries.
Meanwhile, on global governance, the Chairperson reiterated the African Union’s longstanding position that Africa deserves equitable and fair representation on the UN Security Council, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. He also called for renewed international attention to the historical injustices of colonialism, including efforts to address its legacy and to advance recognition of colonialism as a crime against humanity.
The digital divide featured prominently too. Bridging technological disparities, expanding access to technology and strengthening Africa’s digital capabilities, he argued, matters for ordinary people who risk being left behind. He underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation with the Russian Federation and other international partners in promoting technology transfer, innovation, capacity-building and digital transformation in support of Africa’s development priorities.
These appeals, he made clear, are anchored in a broader vision. He reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to respecting the sovereign choices of its Member States as they pursue their development priorities, while advancing the goal of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. That work remains guided by Agenda 2063, the continent’s strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development and the realisation of the aspirations of its people.
Earlier in his remarks, he had expressed appreciation for the warm and cordial welcome extended to all delegations, a courtesy that framed the substantive exchanges that followed.
President Putin responded by thanking the Chairperson and expressing Russia’s appreciation for the partnership and cooperation with the AU Commission. He reaffirmed the strategic nature of relations between Russia and the Commission, and commended the Commission for its role in strengthening the partnership and advancing a shared spirit of cooperation.
For African citizens, the questions raised in Moscow are not abstract. Whether resources are processed locally, whether borrowing costs are fair, whether the continent has a real voice in global institutions and whether technology reaches ordinary people will shape daily life for years to come. Whether the commitments voiced at this plenary translate into jobs, fairer financing and broader access for the continent’s population is now the question both partners must answer.