Malawi president skips Russia-Africa summit
22 African heads of state attended the two-day summit in Moscow discussing trade, security, and food security.
Malawi President Peter Mutharika did not attend the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, which began on Wednesday and concluded on Thursday, October 29. 22 African heads of state were present at the summit, where leaders discussed trade, food security, energy, investment, and security cooperation.
The summit brought together delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries, according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current African Union chairperson, co-chaired the event. Leaders from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali, South Sudan, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and the Republic of the Congo were among those reported in Moscow.
Uganda, Rwanda, Algeria, Burkina Faso, and South Africa sent senior representatives instead of their heads of state. The agenda included discussions on trade and investment, agriculture, energy, transport, education, science, technology, and humanitarian cooperation. Participants were expected to adopt a Russia–Africa partnership action plan for 2027 to 2029.
Why it mattersMalawi's head of state was absent from a summit where African nations discussed trade, food security, energy, investment, and security cooperation with Russia.