Valdai Club’s brain-storming session in Tanzania: What it signifies for Russian-African Relations? -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh 

Russia’s Valdai Discussion Club has shown a unique signs of influence in a new Russian-African architecture by holding brain-storming platform in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania late July 2024. In the context of rapidly changing geopolitical situation, discussions of multipolar arrangement with fairness and transparency frequently dominating, Russia’s Valdai Club in collaboration with Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stakeholders, held presentations – an initiative on knowledge sharing in the field of Russia’s strategic policy in Africa.

It was an impressive testimony on the part of a reputable Russia’s NGO, the Valdai Club to move its operations, for the first historic time, and to display its unflinching support for Moscow, the Kremlin and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to gather highly-respected and experienced experts on Africa. Based on a report published by Valdai Club, the gathering discussed thoroughly the approach and modalities of scaling up the entire scope of Russia’s multifaceted relations with Africa. In other words, the primary aim was to carve out pragmatic policy (encompassing political dialogue, economic cooperation and social dimensions) with the continent. Several Russian media reports also indicated that it was part of preliminary preparations for designing a road-map for the 3rd Russia-Africa summit scheduled for 2026. The Russia-Africa summit has been held every three years alternately in Russia and Africa. In St. Petersburg, the final summit documents outlined the main spheres for the development of Russia-Africa relations until the next summit scheduled for 2026.

For African political leaders and corporate entrepreneurs, Russia’s interest has exponentially increased since the first Russia-Africa summit. With enthusiasm and high positive expectations for a new Russian-African architecture, Moscow has to show more practical results from its ‘several bilateral agreements’ signed with African countries. Bilateral agreements have become a distinctive feature of its summits, and it is now time to make a departure away from mere rhetoric of diplomacy. Despite its global status, Russia’s economic presence, in practical terms, remains invisible across Africa. On the other side, Africa has its own multiple challenges which largely impact on the implementation of bilateral agreements, but it has enormous opportunities as well, attracting foreign investors with funds. Nonetheless, listening and engaging with African leaders and corporate entrepreneurs is an important dynamic part of exploring pathways for strengthening and accelerating a more accentuated relations, especially economic cooperation.

China, India, Japan and South Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are investing in diverse spheres in the continent. As shown, Russia is also interested in expanding influence in the continent. In this emerging multipolar world, Africa is making its own choices, and the leaders are choosing their external partners with adequate funds to invest in economic sectors. With evolving contradictions and complexities, it is the right moment to capitalize on the availability of investment funds for accelerating continental development. In addition, Africa has to strengthen revenue sources from foreign markets offering trade preferences, flexible rules and regulations, for its exportable products and services, and significantly where currency is convertible. Trade experts say there is no need to discriminate East from West, as both are part of the multipolarity. Multipolar implies recognizing the legitimate interests of potential development partners, but confrontation will ultimately leave sharp divisions across Africa.

According to reports monitored from Dar es Salaam, capital of the Republic of Tanzania, Valdai Club held its 2nd African conference, titled “Russia – Africa: Strategy for Cooperation in a Multipolar World.” The first conference was held in July 2023 in St. Petersburg on the eve of the Russia-Africa summit. For the first time, Valdai Club conference found a coxy Tanzanian home in East Africa. For two decades (20 years) since its establishment in 2004, the priority has been on the United States and Europe, with Africa at the bottom of the list after Soviet collapse.

The primary goal, as already stated, was to collect and collate ideas, and within the framework of systematizing Russian-African relations to prepare for the third Russia-Africa summit to be held inside Africa, also for its first time in 2026 possibly in the African Union’s modern headquartered building financed by Chinese. During the first and second summits, Russia unreservedly promised its contributions in ‘economic sectors’ across Africa. These are yet to be delivered after signing ‘several bilateral agreements’ with African countries.

Notwithstanding that however, Valdai Club’s report underscored the fact that already a year after the St. Petersburg summit, “a confidential and frank expert dialogue seems appropriate in promoting mutual cooperation and effectively implementing the tasks set at the summit.” Reminder: St. Petersburg summit declared ‘Action Plan 2023-2026’ within which to implement those several agreements signed.

The Valdai Club also indicated in its report that the political dialogue between Russia and African countries, a year after the St. Petersburg summit, and its significant influence on the expansion of BRICS in 2024, be considered as a historical milestone as two more African states became BRICS members: Egypt and Ethiopia. The report focused on addressing the problems associated with Russia restoring its position in Africa, and one more aspect is on the goals and objectives in achieving this in the continent.

The Valdai Club’s 2nd conference on Russia-Africa was designed to develop an expert work, as well as to identify new tasks for the research activities on African topics. So the key task is to streamline the areas of substantive cooperation and aspects of the new multiple partnerships. Comparatively, Russia lags behind a few external players in Africa. Turkey, at least, has its airlines connecting many African capitals and to Turkey, and there are Turkish construction companies undertaking infrastructural projects in the continent. India is playing appreciable roles in health sectors, leading pharmaceutical production. Chinese President Xi said at the XV BRICS summit in South Africa that China would launch programs of infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, to support manufacturing, diversifying their economies, and creating employment. As at today, China has established 25 economic zones in 16 African countries. Worthy to note in this discussion here that Russia has notably excelled in political dialogues and has being supporting African foreign ministers to shuttle between African capitals and Moscow.

Foreign media such as Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC and Associated Press, and of course the local Russian media praised Valdai Club for its first African conference in Der es Salaam, Tanzania. For instance, Sputnik’s Africa News, Interfax Information News Agency and ITAR-TASS News Agency explicitly noted some of the results, the first as sustaining political dialogue with African partners. Russia is set to hold its first African foreign ministers summit in November 2024 to review and discuss thoroughly the entire scope of developments between Russia and Africa. With a comprehensive agenda, this gathering would examine several agreements signed during the first and second summits in Sochi and St. Petersburg respectively. According to reports from the ministry, it plans to use the foreign ministers platform to outline new mechanisms for implementing the summit’s collective decisions.

On regional peace and security, the Dar es Salaam conference noted the tremendous cooperation Moscow has so far offered, especially on bilateral basis. Official reports further indicated that Moscow welcomed the creation of the “Alliance of Sahel States” (AES), which includes Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali in West African region. According to the report, the unification of the three Francophone countries in the alliance marks the beginning of the liberation of the countries that were part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from the “oppressive” influence of the West, primarily France.

With skyrocketing optimism over increased economic cooperation, the Energy Ministry’s International Cooperation Department, as one key revenue source combined with the objective of redirecting energy away from Europe, Moscow would boost export gas, renewables, and nuclear energy to the continent. The number of energy cooperation projects being discussed with African countries has grown from 30 to 40 since 2022. Concretely Russia is currently building four nuclear plants on a loan of US$29 billion in Egypt. Similar nuclear plants in several African countries are on hold due to lack of finance. Over these years, Russian officials strongly suggested the creation of an energy base in African countries, with exceptional case of Egypt, Russian banks have not shown noticeable interest in financing power generating facilities in other regions in Africa. Fourteen countries have been identified as priorities for mining and transportation. In turn, engaging in this mining and transportation also means that it’s necessary to find or mobilize a large amount of financial resources. It is time to create an adequate financial system of relations with Africa.

The Valdai Club has also acknowledged the high performance of various intergovernmental commissions created to coordinate economic cooperation between Russia and Africa. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has listed 26 of such joint commissions which regularly meet in their respective African capitals and in Moscow. At least, after historic summits, none of the intergovernmental commissions has reported of any development projects undertaken and successfully completed in Africa. The experts made comprehensive evaluations and serious re-assessments of the economic parameters including areas such as agriculture and food security, water resources and environment, energy and mining, industry and trade, infrastructure and transport, communications and the digital economy. These mentioned areas form the key economic part of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023−2026.

Expectations are that Russia intensifies its investment in the same competitive sectors, as other external players. Rhetoric about the emerging multipolar is appropriate, but those against U.S. ‘rules-based order’ and ‘hegemony’ will definitely not help Africa. Africa does not need anti-western slogans and confrontation as ingredients to grow its expected sustainable development, rather practical attractive cooperation and capacity to expedite the implementation agreements. The best logical way to fight existing western tendencies is to simply invest, provide development funds. It is time to begin highlighting successful initiative projects across Africa. In short, a distinguishing feature of the third Russia-Africa summit scheduled for 2026 is the opportunity to take stock of the tangible outcomes of often-rattled multifaceted bilateral cooperation. Russia has to show long-term strategic commitment to its Africa policy.

The last but not the least, relates social relations. People-to-people ties between Russia and Africa and efforts to facilitate cultural ties and dialogue between civil societies must be considered as equally important. People are the bridges between Russia and Africa. Despite the frequent degrading rhetoric, United States has the a huge African Diaspora. As relations is developing, there will be even more African students studying in Russia. Cultural attitudes seemingly changing, but xenophobia and racism still undermine cooperation. Uniformed security still harassing Africans and other colored Africans, and yet Russia amplifies frequently about multipolar society. Nevertheless, Russia and Africa need each other to be strong, stable and independent. Broadening relations requires adhering to friendly attitudes, fairness and inclusiveness as foundations of multipolarity.

The Valdai Club’s position was clear: Russia’s relations is “valuable and long-standing” with Africa, the future developments will be based on these fundamental principles. That however, a new era be seen as a completely different world, and building relationships requires new approach, creating joint structures, and work on a new system of consolidation. Nevertheless, Valdai Club has attempted at retooling and working the same policy issues, at least, that have been repeatedly discussed over past five years (including during first and second summits) plus Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s several meetings with his African colleagues both in Moscow and in Africa capitals between 2019 to 2024. MFA plans to hold the first foreign ministers summit in November should not be underestimated, as it demonstrates the highest level of priority Moscow attaches on Africa in this emerging multipolar world.

The 2nd Russian-African conference of the Valdai Club was held on July 24 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa. It brought together around 40 experts from Russia and East Africa, who discussed at length, based on the history of valuable ties between Russia and the continent, a new template of models for Moscow’s cooperation with Africa after two Russia-Africa summits, the latest held in July 2023 in Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg.

The Valdai Club Foundation was established in 2004 and is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place. In 2014, the management of the Club was transferred to the Valdai Club Foundation, established in 2011 by the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, the Russian International Affairs Council, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and the Higher School of Economics.