Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the reception on Africa Day, Moscow, May 26, 2025
Colleagues,
Friends,
Each year in May, we traditionally convene at the Foreign Ministry Mansion to mark Africa Day – a commemoration that holds profound significance not only for Africans but for all humanity. This date symbolises the surmounting of a colonial past and embodies the unwavering resolve of African peoples in their quest for freedom and justice.
To mark this occasion, President of Russia Vladimir Putin has conveyed a message to the heads of state and government of African nations. Allow me to present it:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on Africa Day.
This year commemorates several anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations, as well as the 65th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The defeat of Nazism and the dismantling of the colonial system stand as pivotal events of the 20th century, securing the potential for free, peaceful development for all humankind.
Over the past decades, independent African states have firmly established themselves as respected members of the international community, achieving notable progress in both economic and social development. Multilateral cooperation at the African Union and various subregional organisations has helped enhance peace, security, and stability across the continent.
Russia has consistently advocated for deepening its traditionally friendly ties with African partners. This commitment was clearly demonstrated at the Russia–Africa Summits held in 2019 and 2023, which opened new avenues for cooperation and fostered greater alignment on key international issues.
The Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum is a new dialogue platform that yields positive results as well. The next meeting of this format is scheduled to take place in one of the African countries later this year.
I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will continue to broaden the scope of Russia–Africa relations, advancing the wellbeing of our peoples and contributing to the emergence of a just and democratic multipolar world order.
I wish you good health and success, and to the citizens of your states – peace and prosperity.
Vladimir Putin.
Colleagues,
This year is marked by the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War, as well as the 65th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This is emphasised in the message from President of Russia Vladimir Putin. These epoch-making events are closely interconnected. On May 10, 1945, in a congratulatory telegram to the head of the Soviet government, Joseph Stalin, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia remarked: “This victory, bringing us the end of the most savage tyranny the world has ever known, has ushered in the threshold of an era of greater happiness and justice for all peoples threatened with annihilation.”
We remember and honour the hundreds of thousands of Africans who fought in the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, hastening Victory. In turn, the defeat of Nazism galvanised the national liberation movement, accelerating the collapse of the colonial system.
Our nation made an immense contribution to the decolonisation process, grounded in one of the UN Charter’s key principles – the right of nations to self-determination. For many years, we selflessly supported Africans in their struggle for freedom and independence, consistently aiding the formation of young states and their comprehensive socio-economic development.
Today, Russia continues to foster the strengthening of Africa’s position as a unique and influential centre of global development. In particular, we support African aspirations to secure a permanent ‘seat’ within the UN Security Council. We will further assist interested African nations in enhancing their defence capabilities, countering terrorism, and ensuring food and energy security.
In recent years, the African continent, asserting itself as one of the pillars of a sustainable multipolar world order, has achieved impressive results. Such progress has largely been made possible by the collective will of Africans to address shared challenges and pursue common goals.
We welcome the dynamic development of integration processes, which strengthen solidarity across the continent and amplify its voice. The African Union plays a pivotal role in this regard. The symbolism of the organisation’s flag, adopted in 2010, is particularly meaningful – the green represents African aspirations and the drive for unity, the gold signifies Africa’s wealth and bright future, while the white embodies the purity of the desire for genuine friendship across the world.
Russia remains a reliable and steadfast partner to African nations in strengthening their sovereignty, the foremost threat to which remains persistent neocolonial practices. In this context, we consider the African Union’s chosen theme for 2025 –Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” – to be in keeping with the spirit of the times.
A significant step in this direction was the adoption by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 of the resolution Eradicating Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, which mandates consideration of establishing an International Day of the Struggle Against Colonialism on December 14 – the date of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. We expect the corresponding draft resolution to be adopted this autumn during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. This will undoubtedly bolster the fight against neocolonial practices, which Western nations continue to employ in their relations with the Global South and East.
We stand united with our African friends in striving to imbue our relations with new substance – in line with the realities of the 21st century. Together, we are working 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 heads of state, encompasses priority areas of cooperation, including security, trade and investment, agriculture, information and communication technologies, science, culture, and education. Moreover, it aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
We note the dynamic growth of trade and economic ties. In 2024, trade between Russia and Africa exceeded 27.7 billion dollars. Clearly, given our existing potential, this is far from the limit.
One of the most dynamic areas of Russian-African cooperation remains education. Today, more than 32,000 African students are enrolled in our universities.
Joint efforts are intensifying in critical fields such as healthcare, epidemic control, and emergency prevention and response.
Our collaboration with the African Union and other multilateral structures on the continent is expanding actively. We see significant potential in fostering their ties with Eurasian integration bodies the EAEU, CSTO, and SCO. Naturally, we wholeheartedly support the development of cooperative relations between the African Union and BRICS.
Our commitment to deepening a multifaceted strategic partnership with Africa is reflected in the establishment of a new structural unit within the Russian Foreign Ministry – the Department of Partnership with Africa. On the agenda is the preparation of the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, to be held this year in an African country. There is no doubt that its outcomes will contribute to the substantive groundwork for the third Russia-Africa Summit, planned for 2026 – also on the African continent, as outlined in the aforementioned Address by President Vladimir Putin.
I would like to once again extend my congratulations on this occasion and wish the peoples of Africa and all those present peace, health, and prosperity.
