African Countries in BRICS: Experts Identify What Determines Success on the Path to South-South Institutions

An analytical report has been prepared following the roundtable discussion "Institutionalizing South-South Cooperation: The BRICS Experience and Prospects for Africa," held on October 13 at the
GlobUs International Expert Club.

The report systematizes three case studies demonstrating different models of African countries' engagement with the group:
Algeria, which remains outside the "political BRICS" and is developing its participation in the New Development Bank as an independent track;
Uganda, which became a BRICS partner to diversify its external relations and is striving for full membership;
and Ethiopia, which is achieving concrete results by integrating national demands into the group's overall agenda, primarily in space.

During the discussion, experts sought answers to key questions:
• Why don't formal BRICS membership criteria guarantee accession?
• How can African countries integrate national initiatives into the collective agenda and translate declarations into concrete decisions?
• Is a consolidated African voice possible in BRICS?

Particular attention was paid to factors that determine outcomes: the balance of interests within BRICS, the role of a country's intangible resources, the ability to propose initiatives that benefit all participants, and the possibility of creating a coordination mechanism to formulate a unified African agenda.

The roundtable became a significant platform for comparing different African paths to South-South institutions. The participation of experts studying the continent's countries allowed the issue to be examined from different angles and laid the foundation for further dialogue.

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