The Valdai Conference in Pretoria crystallized a decisive reorientation of Russian-African relations where sovereignty and shared memory became levers of a new world order based on equality.
Faced with a polarized international scene, the discussions revealed a shared ambition to build a multipolar order based on sovereignty, equitable cooperation, and historical memory. Africa, in search of diplomatic redefinition, finds in the Russian-African dialogue a credible alternative to hegemonic paradigms. It is in this spirit that the forum has established itself as a major intellectual platform where doctrine, pragmatism, and geopolitical vision cohere.
At the opening ceremony, several leading diplomatic and institutional figures spoke: Roman Ambarov, Russian Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho, affirmed that the African continent cannot be reduced to a zone of geopolitical confrontation but constitutes a privileged space for multi-sectoral cooperation; Andrei Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Development and Support of the Valdai Club, emphasized the need to unite a community of experts. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Executive Director of the South African Institute of International Relations (SAIIA); Phumzile Mazibuko, Senior Director in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation; and Steven Gruzd, Head of the Governance and Diplomacy in Africa Program at SAIIA, also contributed to the opening. The conference then focused on four main thematic areas: analyzing the strategic roles of the G20 and the BRICS in a changing world order; exploring humanitarian cooperation and historical memory as vectors of Russian-African relations; the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa; and finally, a reflection on Donald Trump and his place in the world order.
Russian-African strategic refoundation with Pretoria at the heart of the global shift
The first session highlighted the convergence of interests between Moscow and Pretoria in the context of the South African presidency of the G20 in 2025 and the Russian presidency of the BRICS in 2024. The discussions highlighted the potential of these platforms to promote inclusive development, based on sovereignty and horizontal cooperation. The Valdai Club presented a unique report entitled “South Africa and Russia: A Sustainable Legacy of Strategic Cooperation”, consolidating the foundations of a partnership based on complementarity and trust.
Memory, diplomacy, and sovereignty—three pillars of a partnership without colonial past
Dedicated to humanitarian cooperation and historical memory, the second session recalled the Soviet Union’s central role in supporting African liberation movements. This legacy, far from being symbolic, constitutes a moral and political foundation on which contemporary Russian diplomacy in Africa is based. Unlike other powers, Russia has no colonial disputes on the continent, which gives it particular legitimacy in its cooperative efforts. The discussions highlighted Russian-African educational, cultural, and scientific initiatives, as well as bilateral projects in health, energy, and infrastructure.
The third session also analyzed bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa, emphasizing synergies in the areas of security, agriculture, technology, and multilateral diplomacy. Finally, the fourth session explored the opportunities offered by global political realignments, particularly in the face of changes in American foreign policy. The experts emphasized that these changes open up unprecedented room for maneuver for African countries, which can now redefine their alliances according to their national interests and not according to external injunctions.
In closing, the Pretoria conference marks a decisive step in the consolidation of a Russian-African axis based on mutual respect, shared memory, and the common desire to build a multipolar world order. It illustrates the rise of a strategic partnership free from the logic of guardianship and resolutely focused on the future.
Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in geopolitics of governance and regional integration, Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan-African University
