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Putin Promises Doubling Russia-Africa Trade to $50B

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Vladimir Putin told African leaders Russia is their best partner at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Putin accused Western nations of exploiting Africa’s resources and using debt to hinder development.
He offered Russian digital technology and localised raw-material processing in African countries.
He pledged to double Russia-Africa trade to over $50 billion, up from $27 billion.
Amnesty International urged leaders to end coercive recruitment of Africans into Russia’s military.

History

After Angola’s MPLA declared independence on 11 November 1975, the Soviet Union began massive aid, delivering over $2 billion in military support by 1984 while Cuba supplied troops to contain South African incursions. Decades later, President Vladimir Putin at the 2024 Russia-Africa Summit pledged to double trade above $50 billion, echoing Cold-War-era great-power competition.

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After Angola’s MPLA declared independence on 11 November 1975, the Soviet Union began massive aid, delivering over $2 billion in military support by 1984 while Cuba supplied troops to contain South African incursions. Decades later, President Vladimir Putin at the 2024 Russia-Africa Summit pledged to double trade above $50 billion, echoing Cold-War-era great-power competition.

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