Russia-Africa Summits in the Context of a Changing World: a View from the African Continent

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Africa has once again become a space of competition between the great powers in the context of a new geopolitical configuration of the world. Despite the formal independence of the continent’s countries in the 1960s, Africa is still de facto dependent on the major actors of world politics, which calls into question its subjectivity in international politics. The search for a change in relations with the countries of the continent is reflected, inter alia, through the organization of “African” summits by major world powers. The organization of Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023 confirms the thesis that Africa is a strategically important platform in the search for a balance of power between the great powers. However, in all these diplomatic initiatives, Africa has the right and the opportunity to determine for itself the key issues that will help it to effectively embed itself in the new geopolitical system while strengtheni ng its economic, social, and political importance. Even if the socio-economic context remains dependent on numerous endogenous and exogenous factors, the new formula that Africa is facing today can now be achieved not necessarily through multilateral meetings alone. Africa’s role as a systemically important component of the international system has been limited by its relatively low level of participation in world trade and GDP. It therefore seems appropriate for the various Russia-Africa summits to move beyond the traditional framework in which the continent is underrepresented and redefine the boundaries of the partnership towards mutual dynamics, both politically and economically, which are the main thrusts of the Russia-Africa summits.