Putin hosts 48 African leaders in Moscow to expand Russia's continental reach

Russia held its third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow on Wednesday, gathering delegates from 48 nations to formalize a growing partnership with the continent.

Vladimir Putin opened the two-day event by declaring that Western dominance is ending. He described the shift toward a multipolar world as an objective and irreversible trend. "The era in which the fates of entire continents were determined by a narrow bloc of countries is coming to an irreversible end," Putin said.

The summit brought together leaders from nearly 20 of the 54 African nations. The African bloc represents the largest voting block in the United Nations. Putin used the forum to call for a stronger role for Africa in global financial institutions, specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.

Russia currently supplies grain and fertilizers to more than 40 African countries. Putin stated that Moscow is prepared to increase these deliveries to meet continental needs.

The diplomatic push coincides with a military expansion in the Sahel region. Several armies in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have seized power, citing security failures and breaking ties with Western allies. These governments initially welcomed the Wagner Group before it was replaced by the Africa Corps, a unit under the direct command of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Estimates place the number of Russian mercenaries in the three Sahelian countries between 1,700 and 2,000. An additional 1,000 Russian private contractors operate in the Central African Republic.

In August, Russian forces assisted the Niger junta in quelling a mutiny by young soldiers in the capital. The Kremlin has used these military contractors to bolster its influence across economic, security, and political fronts while competing with the United States, Europe, and China.