To consolidate its military-political and economic influence across the African continent, russia has stepped up its so-called “diplomatic contacts” ahead of the russia–Africa summit scheduled for October 28–29, 2026.

At the summit, moscow hopes to conclude a series of strategic agreements aimed at deepening cooperation with African states in the political, military, energy, and economic spheres. The kremlin’s priority in Africa is to secure as many advantages as possible to strengthen russia’s war machine.

In particular, Benin and Senegal will be offered military cooperation agreements, while Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Togo will be offered agreements to simplify procedures for russian warships and auxiliary vessels entering their ports.

The aggressor state russia is also interested in establishing a naval logistics and support facility in Port Sudan, restoring the Soviet-era naval logistics facility in Berbera, Somalia, and setting up a logistics hub at the Eritrean port of Assab.

The kremlin needs these arrangements to expand its military campaign in Africa through the “Africa Corps,” a force controlled by the russian ministry of defense, increase its offensive capabilities, and further extend its military expansion into other countries across the continent.

Access to ports and airfields could also be used by moscow to support the operations of russia’s “shadow fleet” and organize shipping routes between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. If the relevant agreements are concluded, moscow would also gain additional opportunities to monitor maritime traffic in the Mozambique Channel.

The kremlin also seeks to use deeper cooperation with African states to gain access to local natural resources on terms favorable to russia, effectively acquiring them for next to nothing. Another objective is to scale up the recruitment of foreign mercenaries to take part in its criminal war against Ukraine.

The expansion of russia’s military presence on the continent is driven, in part, by the kremlin’s concern over the growing activity of other countries in Africa, primarily the United States and France. In moscow’s view, their strengthening positions on the continent threaten its own geopolitical ambitions.

The “geostrategists” in moscow seek to prevent democratic forces that could deepen cooperation with the United States and European countries from coming to power in African states. The kremlin is betting on a military presence, coercive pressure, and interference in the internal affairs of African countries, creating conditions that could lead to new conflicts.

At the russia–Africa summit, the kremlin intends to discuss “social” cooperation and “human capital” with African leaders and ambassadors. In this context, moscow seeks to expand its network of so-called “russian houses” across Africa — facilities controlled by russian intelligence services and used, among other things, to indoctrinate young Africans. The goal is to establish a network of agents of influence across the continent and exploit African youth as migrant workers and mercenaries in the war.