Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo at the Russia–Africa Forum: We will…
Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo at the Russia–Africa Forum: We will do everything possible to ensure that African countries feel as sovereign as possible and develop humanitarian cooperation with Russia
Soviet-African relations were built on concrete achievements whose impact can still be felt across the continent today. This was stated by Konstantin Kolpakov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, during the panel session “A History of Mutual Choice: Soviet-African Relations in the Continent’s Collective Memory and Contemporary Politics”, held on the sidelines of the Third Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
According to Mr. Kolpakov, a concrete example of such cooperation is the Rossotrudnichestvo project office at the joint stand with the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “Eurasia” (ANO Eurasia) at Gostiny Dvor. Every visitor can propose their own idea, and the best proposals will receive funding through a microgrant system that the Agency will launch in 2027.
As he noted, Rossotrudnichestvo is steadily expanding its presence in Africa. In addition to the nine existing Russian Houses, the network now includes 25 partner Russian Houses located in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and other countries. Official offices operate in Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria), Zambia, Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Tunisia and Ethiopia. Two more Rossotrudnichestvo staff members serve within Russian embassies in South Africa and Angola, with preparations for the opening of a fully fledged Russian House in Luanda actively underway. Agreements with Algeria, Mali and Guinea are currently under discussion.
The Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo added that the Agency acts as the operator of the first stage of the selection process for foreign nationals applying to study in Russia under the Russian Government scholarship quota. For the 2025/2026 academic year, more than 5,300 places were allocated to African countries. The quotas increased for the new academic year, with Chad, Angola, Algeria, Egypt and Mali among the largest beneficiaries. Over the past year, the number of African participants in New Generation, a short-term exchange programme in Russia, has more than doubled.
He also announced the signing of a memorandum between Krasnodar, Russia, and Antsirabe, Madagascar. The consolidated register of intermunicipal agreements will now include 28 agreements with African cities.
The Forum is taking place in Moscow on 28–29 October. It has brought together delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries, including 22 heads of state. The programme features more than 40 thematic sessions and panel discussions, with around 100 speakers taking part.
Soviet-African relations were built on concrete achievements whose impact can still be felt across the continent today. This was stated by Konstantin Kolpakov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, during the panel session “A History of Mutual Choice: Soviet-African Relations in the Continent’s Collective Memory and Contemporary Politics”, held on the sidelines of the Third Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
“Our task is to breathe new life into this historical legacy, turning the trust built over the years into a foundation for practical cooperation,” he said. “We will do everything possible to ensure that African countries feel as sovereign as possible and develop humanitarian cooperation with Russia.”
According to Mr. Kolpakov, a concrete example of such cooperation is the Rossotrudnichestvo project office at the joint stand with the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “Eurasia” (ANO Eurasia) at Gostiny Dvor. Every visitor can propose their own idea, and the best proposals will receive funding through a microgrant system that the Agency will launch in 2027.
As he noted, Rossotrudnichestvo is steadily expanding its presence in Africa. In addition to the nine existing Russian Houses, the network now includes 25 partner Russian Houses located in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and other countries. Official offices operate in Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria), Zambia, Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Tunisia and Ethiopia. Two more Rossotrudnichestvo staff members serve within Russian embassies in South Africa and Angola, with preparations for the opening of a fully fledged Russian House in Luanda actively underway. Agreements with Algeria, Mali and Guinea are currently under discussion.
“The Russian language is not only the language of a rich culture and heritage, but also a language of the future and of success. It is a language through which young African men and women can fulfil their potential. Helping them learn it is one of the objectives of Russian Houses,” Konstantin Kolpakov emphasised.
The Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo added that the Agency acts as the operator of the first stage of the selection process for foreign nationals applying to study in Russia under the Russian Government scholarship quota. For the 2025/2026 academic year, more than 5,300 places were allocated to African countries. The quotas increased for the new academic year, with Chad, Angola, Algeria, Egypt and Mali among the largest beneficiaries. Over the past year, the number of African participants in New Generation, a short-term exchange programme in Russia, has more than doubled.
He also announced the signing of a memorandum between Krasnodar, Russia, and Antsirabe, Madagascar. The consolidated register of intermunicipal agreements will now include 28 agreements with African cities.
The Forum is taking place in Moscow on 28–29 October. It has brought together delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries, including 22 heads of state. The programme features more than 40 thematic sessions and panel discussions, with around 100 speakers taking part.