South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit left Juba on Monday for Moscow to attend the third Russia-Africa Summit on October 28–29, his office said, as his government seeks to strengthen ties with Russia and attract investment.
Kiir is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on relations between the two countries and opportunities to expand cooperation, Presidential Press Secretary Ambassador Arek Ayou Deng said.
Preparations for the summit have entered their final stage, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The meeting will bring together African leaders and Russian officials to discuss political, security and economic cooperation. Putin and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who chairs the African Union, are due to co-chair the summit’s plenary session on October 29.
The summit’s agenda includes trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and food security.
Russia’s Africa strategy
Russia has sought to expand its diplomatic and security engagement across Africa, positioning itself as an alternative partner to Western powers. However, its trade and investment presence on the continent remains smaller than that of major economic partners such as China and the United States.
Moscow has framed its engagement with African countries around the idea of a multipolar world order and greater independence from Western-led institutions. The push has also taken place as Russia faces economic and diplomatic isolation from Western countries over its war in Ukraine.
African governments, for their part, have sought to diversify international partnerships to attract investment, secure military and security cooperation and strengthen food supplies and agricultural production.
For South Sudan, the summit offers an opportunity to pursue closer ties with Moscow as the country seeks investment and cooperation in sectors including energy, infrastructure and agriculture.
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