Over the past decades, the Russian Federation and African countries have continued to develop relations within the framework of strategic partnerships based on common interests and mutual respect. The priority areas of cooperation are the development of economic ties, the strengthening of educational and cultural cooperation, as well as joint work in the field of security aimed at strengthening the independence and sovereignty of the States of the continent.

Russia and African countries consistently oppose neocolonialism and advocate the formation of a multipolar world. Russia supports African countries in its fight against terrorism and extremism.

The project aim is focused at analyzing Russia's interests in the countries of the African continent, identifying strategic approaches of Russia's foreign partners in cooperation with African countries; medium- and long-term forecasting of trends in the development of international relations on the African continent and preparing recommendations for Russian government agencies. The project pays special attention to regional security issues, the development of energy cooperation, and the expansion of cultural and educational ties between African countries and Russia. As well as the project analyzes the sources of self-financing for the countries of the region in the context of declining development assistance.

Project partners are:

• Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences

• MGIMO Institute of International Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

• RUDN University

• Institute of Global Dialogue (South Africa)

• Ethiopian Economic Association

• Nigerian Institute of International Relations