Russia’s expanding engagement with Africa signals a strategic shift toward deeper diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation.
Wider Africa Commitment
According to Dovgalenko, the branch of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to create more efficient diplomatic and economic engagement while strengthening multilateral efforts. According to Ethiopia’s Ambassador Genet Teshome, the move by Russia has the potential of streamlined cooperation to deliver measurable progress in bilateral agreements. The ambassador also stressed the importance of learning from global partnerships to refine decision-making and ensure successful project implementation.
This latest development underlines a broad commitment by the Russian Federation to further advance economic and strategic collaboration, and expanding stronger partnerships between Russia and African nations. Accordig to Dovgalenko, the Department will work with both the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as individual member countries to ensure synergy and efficiency.
Dovgalenko was named director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Partnership with Africa, on January 13, 2025. The new department mirrors the basic structure of the ministry’s Department for Pan-European Cooperation. Dovgalenko has extensive experience, having served as ambassador-at-large and led the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat. She previously held key positions as deputy director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations from 2023 to 2024 and spent seven years as Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCO (See interview).
The Bigger Picture
At Dovgalenko’s confirmation ceremony, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia will push for African nations to have permanent seats at the UN Security Council. He also spoke of expanded Russia-Africa cooperation, which President Vladimir Putin termed strategic in his article “Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future.” The significance of the first and second Russia-Africa Summits, along with last November’s inaugural ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, were milestones in this effort. Lavrov also spoke of Africa’s positions within BRICS, as they continue to strengthen and are set to expand further. The creation of this new arm of the mininstry is an important step forward.
In recent news from Dovgalenko’s mission, conducted a teleconference to discuss plans for the creation of the Museum of African Culture in Moscow. The initiative was brought together by participants from Russia, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, with additional representatives from Benin, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Guinea, Morocco, South Africa, and Zambia. The goal of this new museum will be to showcase Africa’s cultural heritage and diversity to Russian audiences. Such a museum will create a platform for cultural exchange, academic collaborations, and business partnerships which will be crucial to Russia-Africa collaborations in the coming years. Of particular interest is the increasing interest in African students to studying in the creative fields in Russia. Over 20 African nations have already sent students to Russian universities, and this number is expected to expand geometrically.
Looking at through the wider lenses, Russia diverting massive resources away from Western nations that refuse to play fair. This new department, all the efforts in Africa and on other continents, and especially the BRICS expansion are part of a wider commitment to focus on the majority, or mutlipolar order now taking shape. The Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department for Partnership with Africa can play a pivotal role in opening new markets and opportunities for African nations and the Russian Federation. Strategically, the potential is a winning hand in the ongoing geostrategic chess match between the United States, the UK, and the EU, with almost all the other world nations.
Phil Butler, is a policy investigator and analyst, a political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe, he’s an author of the recent bestseller “Putin’s Praetorians” and other books
