On June 16, 2025, Moscow hosted the conference “BRICS and Africa: Political, Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation”, organized by the Center for the Study of the BRICS African Strategy of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAS RAS) jointly with the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). The event was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, an important milestone in the history of the Non-Aligned Movement and international solidarity of the countries of the Global South.
The conference was opened on behalf of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences by Doctor of Historical Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences for Research Natalia Aleksandrovna Zherlitsyna. She noted that the challenges discussed at the Bandung Conference 70 years ago remain relevant to this day. According to her, BRICS plays an important role in the process of decolonization and the formation of a more just world order.
In his welcoming speech, RIAC Director General Ivan Nikolaevich Timofeev expressed gratitude to the Institute of African Studies for fruitful cooperation, emphasizing the growing role of the RAS IAS as a central platform for expertise on African issues in Russia.
The Conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Russia's Sherpa in BRICS Sergey Alekseevich Ryabkov. In his speech, he emphasized that BRICS is strengthening as a pillar of a new fair world order based on equality and consideration of the interests of the states of the Global South and East. He paid special attention to the role of African countries in BRICS activities, as well as to the expanding humanitarian and diplomatic cooperation between Russia and Africa.
"We continue to proceed from the fact that the doors of BRICS are open to all who share its values. There is no doubt that the role of African countries in the association will only grow," noted Sergey Alekseevich. After S.A. Ryabkov's speech, a lively discussion followed, in which scientists and the Deputy Minister exchanged opinions on strategic issues of multilateral cooperation within BRICS.
Plenary session: “Africa’s cooperation with the BRICS countries”
The moderator of the plenary session was Daria Aleksandrovna Zelenova, PhD in Political Science, Head of Head of the Centre for African Strategy in BRICS IAF RAS. During the session, the participants discussed the issues of the emerging new world order and the role of African states in BRICS. In addition to scientists, the session was attended by the Ambassador of Egypt to the Russian Federation, Mr. Nazih El Naggari, Advisor to the Political Department Cecile Heppes and the Head of the Secretariat, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Zahir Amien.
Vladimir Gennadievich Shubin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Chief Researcher Center for History and Cultural Anthropology, emphasized the difference between Bandung and the Non-Aligned Movement, pointing out that multipolarity as an idea had already existed in international practice since the 1960s. He also noted the importance of scientifically rethinking the role of African countries in BRICS and called for further research into these processes.
Director General of the Tshwane University of Technology Rasigan Maharaj noted the importance and symbolism of the day of the conference on June 16 for South Africa, which celebrates Youth Day. After all, the importance of the role of youth for Africa cannot be underestimated. Rasigan Maharaj noted that the quantitative superiority of BRICS in terms of population and economic indicators over Western countries is undeniable, but this alone is not enough for the development of the system of international relations in the conditions of crisis and serious climate challenges faced by humanity. He also emphasized that given that BRICS plus represents a de facto global majority, there is a need for a well-thought-out institutionalization of the functions of the association so that the voice of this majority sounds more harmoniously in the Institutions of Global Governance.
Session No. 1: “Economic Development within the BRICS Framework” was moderated by the Head of the Department of World Economy at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, PhD in Economics I.A. Makarov.
During the session, the participants discussed issues of economic cooperation between African countries in BRICS. Sergey Nikolaevich Volkov, PhD, Head of Center for the Study of Russian-African Relations Institute for African Studies RAS, devoted his speech to the role of Egypt as a new member of BRICS, emphasizing that in the person of this country the association received one of the leading players in Africa. According to Sergey Nikolaevich, by joining BRICS, Egypt will aim to strengthen food and financial security, technology transfer and personnel training.
Denis Andreevich Degterev, Doctor of Political Science, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Chief Researcher Центра изучения проблем переходной экономики ИАфр РАН, в своей презентации отметил, что БРИКС представляет собой вторую попытку усиления влияния стран Глобального Юга в глобальном экономическом управлении. После реформирования ЮНКТАД фактически страны Глобального Юга перестали отвечать за формулирование собственной повестки развития, которая стала определяться западными институтами.
Vasily Aleksandrovich Sidorov, Ph.D., senior researcher Center for the Study of BRICS African Strategy IAF RAS, highlighted the economic dynamics of South Africa, focusing on its development after joining BRICS in 2010, including examining the economic effect of South Africa's participation in the NDB. Sidorov noted that virtually all current loans from the NDB to South Africa are directed toward projects that are somehow related to infrastructure development.
Pilani Mthembu, executive director of the South African Institute for Global Dialogue, said the context in which many Western countries are cutting development aid to countries in the Global South could be a signal to begin mobilizing domestic resources.
Africa is characterized by being a net exporter of capital: the outflow of capital exceeds its inflow. Thus, there are real resources that can be mobilized for its own development. Africa needs to develop its own value chains and focus on supranational infrastructure projects that will strengthen the ties within the continent itself.
Session No. 2: “Humanitarian cooperation of African countries with BRICS” brought together speakers from MGIMO, IAF RAS, IMEMO, as well as practical specialists involved in public diplomacy.
Sofia Nikolaevna Zamesina from Center for the Study of BRICS African Strategy IAF RAS, presented a report on the prospects for scientific and educational integration of Egypt and Ethiopia within the BRICS framework. Based on the results of the study, Sophia noted that BRICS academic cooperation is becoming one of the key areas of interaction within the association, which is confirmed by the development of cooperation formats in accordance with the goals of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation of 2015, as well as the institutionalization of initiatives such as the BRICS Network University and the BRICS GRAIN format. However, the accession of LDCs, such as Ethiopia, may complicate the development of some BRICS initiatives in science and education.
Tamara Alekseevna Andreeva, a junior researcher at the same Center, presented a study on the situation of women in the African BRICS countries, outlining key social challenges and the need for a gender-oriented policy that could become a common direction for unification.
Alexander Dmitrievich Novikov, junior researcher Центра изучения проблем переходной экономики IAF RAS, head of projects at the Gorchakov Fund, spoke about the experience of Russian public diplomacy in the BRICS area, summing up the results of 2024, the year of Russia's chairmanship in the association. He emphasized that public diplomacy continues to play a key role in the formation of sustainable humanitarian ties between the BRICS countries. Alexander Dmitrievich paid special attention to the efforts of the Gorchakov Fund to expand the geography of partnerships. In particular, they discussed a number of new projects aimed at involving research and youth circles from states that recently joined the association.
Maya Viktorovna Nikolskaya, head of the MGIMO IMI program “Africa in Focus of Russian Interests,” emphasized that it is in Russia’s interests to implement the “triple helix” model as a convergence of educational projects, business, and public administration, and to develop content and marketing strategies to promote cultural and educational projects.
The conference demonstrated the importance of the analytical contribution of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the development of scientific and expert dialogue on issues of interaction between the BRICS countries and the African continent. The high level of discussion, international presence and active dialogue with representatives of diplomatic agencies testify to the important role of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in forming a substantive agenda for Russian-African cooperation in a multipolar world.
