🇷🇺🌍 Russia–Africa Youth Forum at MGIMO
On October 28–29, MGIMO hosted the Russia–Africa Youth Forum on the sidelines of the Third Russia–Africa Summit. The forum brought together senior officials, diplomats, experts and young people from Russia and across Africa to discuss the future of cooperation in education, the economy, politics and culture.
Plenary Session
The opening ceremony featured Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO; Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros; Justin Nsengiyumva, Prime Minister of Rwanda; Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, First Gentleman of Namibia; Leonid Slutsky, head of the LDPR group in the State Duma; Maria Voropaeva, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma and Konstantin Kolpakov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo.
🔵Anatoly Torkunov read out a welcome address from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,which placed special emphasis on the younger generation:
“Young people in our countries will soon take up the baton and carry the Russia–Africa strategic partnership forward.”
In his own remarks, the Rector spoke about MGIMO’s growing educational ties with the continent. The university is now home to more than 80 students from 25 African countries, whereas a few decades ago there were only two.
🔵Justin Nsengiyumva highlighted MGIMO’s contribution to training diplomats for Russia and other countries, including African nations.
He noted that a university education helps build lasting professional and personal connections that complement relations between states.
🔵Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah recalled studying in the Soviet Union in 1977 and proposed closer cooperation between Russian and Namibian universities.
As one promising avenue, he suggested that students in Moscow and Windhoek work together on practical challenges in water supply, energy, healthcare and agriculture.
🔵Leonid Slutsky focused on the responsibility the younger generation will bear for the development of their countries, stressing that the forum’s participants will go on to hold leading positions in politics, public administration and business.
⭐ During the forum, Azali Assoumani received an honorary doctorate from MGIMO, conferred by the university’s Academic Council in recognition of his efforts to strengthen dialogue between Russia and African countries.
👥 The key outcome of the forum was the establishment of the Russian-African Youth Union, which will become part of the secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Eighteen organizations from the Gambia, Mali, Mozambique, South Sudan, Rwanda and other countries have confirmed their membership, and the union remains open to new members.
📎 Beyond the plenary session, the forum’s program spanned several interconnected tracks: economy and entrepreneurship, expert dialogue, politics and security, education and people-to-people ties, and cultural exchange.
💙 Special attention was given to the everyday experience of African students at Russian universities. In an open-mic session, participants discussed adapting to the academic and cultural environment, opportunities to realize their potential, and building friendships with their Russian peers.
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