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Russia opened its third summit with African countries in Moscow on Wednesday, with 48 nations represented, 33 agreements scheduled for signing and a new three-year cooperation plan on the agenda.

Morocco is represented by Head of government Fatima Zahra Mansouri, attending on behalf of King Mohammed VI, alongside Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Ambassador Lotfi Bouchaara.

The two-day gathering comes three years after the last Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, with Moscow seeking to expand commercial relations that have grown since 2019 but remain below the targets set by President Vladimir Putin.

Here are five key developments shaping the October 28–29 meeting.

1. Twenty-two African leaders are attending, up from 17 in 2023

Delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries confirmed their participation, with 22 represented by heads of state, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said Monday.

That compares with 17 heads of state at the 2023 summit and 43 at the inaugural gathering in Sochi in 2019.

Putin and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current African Union chair, are co-chairing the summit.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and leaders from several Sahel countries are among those expected to participate in bilateral meetings.

2. Russia’s trade with Africa is still $13 billion short of Putin’s original target

Russia-Africa trade exceeded $27 billion in 2025, according to Ushakov, compared with approximately $16.8 billion in 2019.

But Putin’s target of $40 billion, announced at the first summit seven years ago, remains unmet.

The gap is considerable when compared with Africa’s other major commercial partners. China-Africa trade reached approximately $348 billion in 2025, while European Union trade with the continent was valued at about $395 billion, according to figures cited by Chatham House.

Russian agricultural exports to Africa increased 35% in value during the first half of 2026 to $2.9 billion, with wheat shipments reaching record levels. Moscow is now seeking additional business in transport, agricultural machinery, nuclear energy and manufacturing.

3. Thirty-three agreements and a 2027–2029 action plan are expected

The Kremlin says 33 intergovernmental, departmental and commercial documents are scheduled for signing during the summit.

Participants are also expected to adopt a cooperation plan covering 2027 to 2029, alongside a political declaration and a separate agreement on civilian applications of artificial intelligence.

The accompanying economic forum includes more than 40 sessions addressing trade, food security, energy, mining, technology and transport.

4. Morocco arrives after Bourita’s talks with Lavrov

Mansouri’s visit follows an October 23 telephone conversation between Bourita and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two discussed summit preparations, bilateral relations and coordination on regional and international issues, including at the United Nations. Morocco’s delegation is among those attending at head-of-government level.

5. Security ties and the Ukraine war remain contentious

Russia has expanded its military presence in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, where Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have developed closer security relations with Moscow.

Putin is scheduled to meet Mali’s military leader Assimi Goïta, whose government has relied on Russian personnel in its campaign against armed insurgents.