Second Russia-Africa Summit: from the Legacy of Colonialism to Sovereignty and Development

Abstract

The article scrutinizes the course of the Second Summit and the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which was successfully held in St. Petersburg on July 27–28, 2023, despite the persistent efforts of the West to disrupt it. The authors summarize the first results of this landmark event, outlining how the second forum differed from the first, and analyze the main areas of cooperation between Russia and Africa in the context of the transformation of the world order. The main question that the authors pose in the article is why Africans continue to rely on Russia and are ready to cooperate with it, despite the threats of the United States and former metropolises in their address? The authors see the answer in the unwillingness of Africans to abide by the West imposed rules, as well as in the opening of a unique opportunity to achieve real sovereignty and free themselves from the legacy of colonialism, not in words, but in deeds. The key issues that concern both Russia and Africa today are the formation of a new more just world order, security in the broad sense of the word, scientific and technological breakthrough and economic development in the interests of their own countries and peoples, new mechanisms and forms of mutually beneficial cooperation and interaction in the humanitarian sphere. According to the authors, though landmark events of such magnitude as the Second Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, are important by themselves, real value should be measured by the processes they unleash. Only a few months have passed since the summit, but concrete projects in the African direction have already begun to be implemented. And this gives hope that most of the interesting and promising ideas and proposals put forward at the summit will be implemented. And this meets the interests of both Russia and the countries of the Global South, as it lays the foundations for the formation of a new world order that is more just and meets the interests of the global majority.