Dear sir,
Friends,
Colleagues,
Every year in May, we traditionally gather at the Mansion of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and celebrate Africa Day, a holiday that has a deep meaning not only for Africans, but for all mankind. This date is a symbol of overcoming the colonial past, the personification of the indomitable will of the African peoples in the struggle for freedom and justice.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and World War II and the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This is emphasized in the Message of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. These epochal events are closely related. On May 10, 1945, in a congratulatory telegram to the head of the Soviet government, I.V. Stalin, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia noted: "This victory, which brings us the end of the wildest tyranny the world has ever known, has led us to the threshold of an era of greater happiness and greater justice for all peoples who were threatened with annihilation."
We remember and appreciate that hundreds of thousands of Africans fought in the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, bringing Victory closer. In turn, the defeat of Nazism contributed to the development of the national liberation movement and accelerated the collapse of the colonial system.
Our country has made a huge contribution to the process of decolonization, which was based on one of the key principles of the UN Charter – the right of nations to self-determination. Over the years, we have selflessly supported Africans in their struggle for freedom and independence, and consistently promoted the formation of young States and their comprehensive socio-economic development.
Today, Russia continues to strengthen Africa's position as an original and influential center of global development. In particular, it supports the desire of Africans to obtain permanent "registration" in the UN Security Council. We will continue to assist interested African countries in strengthening their defense capabilities, countering terrorism, and ensuring food and energy security.
In recent years, the African continent, which is establishing itself as one of the pillars of a sustainable multipolar world order, has achieved impressive results. This progress was largely made possible by the collective will of Africans to solve common problems and achieve common goals.
We welcome the dynamic development of integration processes, which contribute to strengthening solidarity on the continent and make its voice more significant. The African Union plays a key role here. The colors of the unification flag, approved in 2010, are very symbolic: green represents African aspirations and the desire for unity, gold means African wealth and a bright future, and white represents the purity of the desire to have true friends all over the world.
Russia remains a reliable and faithful partner of African countries in strengthening their sovereignty, the main threat to which is the persistence of neo-colonial practices. In this regard, we consider the theme of 2025 in the African Union to be in line with the spirit of the times: "Justice for Africans and people of African descent through the payment of reparations."
An important step in this direction was the adoption by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 of the resolution "The Eradication of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations", prescribing consideration of the establishment of an International Day against Colonialism on December 14, the day of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. We expect that the relevant draft resolution will be adopted this fall at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. This, of course, will contribute to the fight against the neocolonial practices that Western countries continue to use in their relations with the Global South and East.
My African friends and I are united in our desire to fill our relations with new content, in the spirit of the realities of the 21st century. We are working together to implement the agreements reached at the Russia-Africa summits in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023, as well as at the first ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi in November 2024. The Joint Action Plan for 2023-2026 adopted by the heads of state includes such priority areas of cooperation as security, trade and investment, agriculture, information and communication technologies, science, culture, and education. At the same time, it is compatible with the "Agenda 2063: Africa as we want it to be" adopted in the African Union.
We note the dynamic development of trade and economic relations. In 2024, the trade turnover between Russia and Africa exceeded $27.7 billion. It is clear that, given the potential we have, this is far from the limit.
One of the most dynamic areas of Russian-African cooperation has traditionally been education. Today, over 32,000 African students study at our universities.
Joint work is intensifying in such important areas as healthcare, epidemic control, and emergency prevention and response.
Our cooperation with the African Union and other multilateral organizations on the continent is actively developing. We see great prospects in the development of their contacts with the Eurasian integration associations – the EAEU, the CSTO, and the SCO. Of course, we strongly support the development of cooperation relations between the African Union and BRICS.
Our commitment to deepening the multifaceted Russian-African strategic partnership is reflected in the establishment of a new structural unit in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Department of Partnership with Africa. Preparations for the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which will be held this year in an African country, are on the agenda. There is no doubt that its results will contribute to the qualitative preparation of the third Russian-African summit, scheduled for 2026, also on the African continent, as noted in the above–mentioned Message from President Vladimir Putin.
I would like to once again congratulate you on this holiday and wish the peoples of Africa and all those present peace, health and prosperity.
Moscow, May,26
Friends,
Colleagues,
Every year in May, we traditionally gather at the Mansion of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and celebrate Africa Day, a holiday that has a deep meaning not only for Africans, but for all mankind. This date is a symbol of overcoming the colonial past, the personification of the indomitable will of the African peoples in the struggle for freedom and justice.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and World War II and the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This is emphasized in the Message of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. These epochal events are closely related. On May 10, 1945, in a congratulatory telegram to the head of the Soviet government, I.V. Stalin, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia noted: "This victory, which brings us the end of the wildest tyranny the world has ever known, has led us to the threshold of an era of greater happiness and greater justice for all peoples who were threatened with annihilation."
We remember and appreciate that hundreds of thousands of Africans fought in the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, bringing Victory closer. In turn, the defeat of Nazism contributed to the development of the national liberation movement and accelerated the collapse of the colonial system.
Our country has made a huge contribution to the process of decolonization, which was based on one of the key principles of the UN Charter – the right of nations to self-determination. Over the years, we have selflessly supported Africans in their struggle for freedom and independence, and consistently promoted the formation of young States and their comprehensive socio-economic development.
Today, Russia continues to strengthen Africa's position as an original and influential center of global development. In particular, it supports the desire of Africans to obtain permanent "registration" in the UN Security Council. We will continue to assist interested African countries in strengthening their defense capabilities, countering terrorism, and ensuring food and energy security.
In recent years, the African continent, which is establishing itself as one of the pillars of a sustainable multipolar world order, has achieved impressive results. This progress was largely made possible by the collective will of Africans to solve common problems and achieve common goals.
We welcome the dynamic development of integration processes, which contribute to strengthening solidarity on the continent and make its voice more significant. The African Union plays a key role here. The colors of the unification flag, approved in 2010, are very symbolic: green represents African aspirations and the desire for unity, gold means African wealth and a bright future, and white represents the purity of the desire to have true friends all over the world.
Russia remains a reliable and faithful partner of African countries in strengthening their sovereignty, the main threat to which is the persistence of neo-colonial practices. In this regard, we consider the theme of 2025 in the African Union to be in line with the spirit of the times: "Justice for Africans and people of African descent through the payment of reparations."
An important step in this direction was the adoption by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 of the resolution "The Eradication of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations", prescribing consideration of the establishment of an International Day against Colonialism on December 14, the day of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. We expect that the relevant draft resolution will be adopted this fall at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. This, of course, will contribute to the fight against the neocolonial practices that Western countries continue to use in their relations with the Global South and East.
My African friends and I are united in our desire to fill our relations with new content, in the spirit of the realities of the 21st century. We are working together to implement the agreements reached at the Russia-Africa summits in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023, as well as at the first ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi in November 2024. The Joint Action Plan for 2023-2026 adopted by the heads of state includes such priority areas of cooperation as security, trade and investment, agriculture, information and communication technologies, science, culture, and education. At the same time, it is compatible with the "Agenda 2063: Africa as we want it to be" adopted in the African Union.
We note the dynamic development of trade and economic relations. In 2024, the trade turnover between Russia and Africa exceeded $27.7 billion. It is clear that, given the potential we have, this is far from the limit.
One of the most dynamic areas of Russian-African cooperation has traditionally been education. Today, over 32,000 African students study at our universities.
Joint work is intensifying in such important areas as healthcare, epidemic control, and emergency prevention and response.
Our cooperation with the African Union and other multilateral organizations on the continent is actively developing. We see great prospects in the development of their contacts with the Eurasian integration associations – the EAEU, the CSTO, and the SCO. Of course, we strongly support the development of cooperation relations between the African Union and BRICS.
Our commitment to deepening the multifaceted Russian-African strategic partnership is reflected in the establishment of a new structural unit in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Department of Partnership with Africa. Preparations for the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which will be held this year in an African country, are on the agenda. There is no doubt that its results will contribute to the qualitative preparation of the third Russian-African summit, scheduled for 2026, also on the African continent, as noted in the above–mentioned Message from President Vladimir Putin.
I would like to once again congratulate you on this holiday and wish the peoples of Africa and all those present peace, health and prosperity.
Moscow, May,26