Russian President Vladimir Putin marked Africa Day by reaffirming his country’s commitment to expanding ties with African nations, emphasizing the construction of a multipolar world order based on justice and democracy.

In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin congratulated African leaders, recognizing the continent’s achievements in economic and social development. He highlighted the significance of historical milestones, including the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end, the formation of the United Nations, and the 65th anniversary of the UN Declaration granting independence to colonial nations.

Putin stressed that the defeat of Nazism and the collapse of colonialism were among the most pivotal events of the 20th century, enabling global progress and peace. He praised multilateral cooperation within the African Union (AU) and subregional bodies, underscoring their role in strengthening security and stability across the continent.

Russia has pledged to expand its traditionally friendly relations with African states. The Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023 facilitated new avenues of collaboration in international affairs, and Putin announced that another high-level meeting will be held before the end of 2025 in an African nation.

On the 62nd anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), leaders across the continent reflected on the historical struggle against colonialism, recalling the 1963 signing of the OAU Charter in Addis Ababa. The body, which played a key role in decolonization, evolved into the African Union in 2002, expanding its focus to economic integration and security.

Despite progress, Africa faces mounting crises, including terrorism in the Sahel, armed conflicts in Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and climate-related disasters that have displaced millions of people.

Western Sahara remains Africa’s last colony, its status contested between Morocco and the Polisario Front, with Algeria supporting Sahrawi self-determination. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a renewed commitment to peace, stability, and sustainable development across Africa, stressing the urgency of tackling poverty, instability, and climate threats.

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