Author: Berthe Mohamed Lamine
Many African leaders are expected in Saint Petersburg on July 27 and 28 for the second Russia-Africa summit. Sputnik outlines the main themes that will be discussed, ranging from economic cooperation to the enlargement of the BRICS.
The second Russia-Africa summit is scheduled to take place July 27-28 in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the slogan "For peace, security and development." It aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between Russia and Africa, promote political dialogue, expand economic cooperation and encourage cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
This is a major diplomatic event that will bring together the leaders of Russia and representatives of more than 50 African countries, as well as those of regional and international organizations, the business community, civil society and the media. .
The summit will also be an opportunity to review the progress and achievements of the first Russia-Africa summit, held in the Russian resort town of Sochi in 2019, and set new goals and priorities.
The agenda
Among the main events that will take place on the sidelines of the summit is the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum. Participants are expected to discuss a variety of issues which are divided into four blocks.
The first, entitled "Technology and security for a sovereign development that benefits the people", aims to explore the prospects for cooperation between Russia and Africa, particularly in the fields of mining, energy, exports, agriculture, logistics and financial security.
In the second, "Integrated Security and Sovereign Development", issues related to international security and geopolitical stability, regional security and cooperation in the fight against corruption and transnational cartels will be raised. This section will also discuss food security in Africa, information security and challenges to electoral sovereignty.
On the technological side, the third section of the forum, "Scientific and technological cooperation" will examine the prospects for strengthening the partnership in the fields of infrastructure, innovation, as well as the introduction of advanced Russian technologies, in particular digital technologies. , industrial, nuclear and space, with a view to promoting sustainable development in Africa. In this regard, the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) recently announced its intention to sign cooperation agreements with African countries during the summit.
Humanitarian first Participants will also address humanitarian and social issues in the fourth block of the Forum, under the theme "The Humanitarian and Social Sphere: Working Together for a New Quality of Life". It aims to strengthen humanitarian cooperation between Russia and African countries, especially in the fields of higher education and educational technologies, culture and sports. This bloc will also concern the Russophile movement in Africa.
"The human dimension of development has been declared a priority by Russia and the African Union and its Agenda 2063 program. In an increasingly multipolar world, cooperation in the human dimension is of particular importance," the Russian ministry said. Foreign Affairs.
The media in the current context
On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg summit, there will also be a meeting of rectors of Russian and African universities, a youth program as well as a media forum with the participation of Sputnik Africa and RT. Sputnik, part of the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group, is an official media partner of the event.
The two agencies will participate in the organization of two sessions of the media forum, namely "Sovereign media and the fight against disinformation: the experience of Russia and African countries" and "Multipolar information world: the role of African Arab countries in the new realities of international relations".
The BRICS
The enlargement of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) could also be discussed at the summit at the initiative of the African side, according to Oleg Ozerov, head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. At the end of the event, an action plan for priority areas of cooperation over the period from 2023 to 2026 should be adopted, he added.
More than half of African countries have confirmed their participation at the highest level, despite constant pressure exerted on them by the West to cancel their trip to Russia, the head of Russian diplomacy said on June 30.
African leaders who have officially confirmed their intention to travel to St. Petersburg for the summit include President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, President of Libya's Presidential Council Mohamed Menfi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud. .
Fourteen heads of African Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) also agreed in mid-May to participate in the Russia-Africa Summit and the Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
Berthe Mohamed Lamine
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