Addis Abeba, 28 October 2019: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, participated in the Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum in Sochi on 23 and 24 October 2019, alongside 47 African Heads of State. He was accompanied by Commissioner of Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui and Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy,Dr Amani Abouzeid.

The Forum which aims to boost economic and political relations between Africa and Russia, as well as with the Eurasian Economic Union, was co-organized by H.E. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the current Chair of the Union, and H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

Addressing the Summit, the Chairperson highlighted the principles of the Africa-Russia strategic partnership, and its potential for cooperation in agriculture, natural resource development, industry, trade, infrastructure, energy, as well as in the areas of military, peace and political cooperation.
The Chairperson briefed participating African and Russian Heads of State on progress achieved under Agenda 2063, notably the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area. He invited Russian investors to take part in Africa’s development.
The Chairperson also held a number of bilateral meetings with participating Heads of State on the margins of the Summit.

At the conclusion of the Summit, on behalf of the African Union Commission, the Chairperson signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).
The first MOU was a bilateral instrument signed with Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, regarding African-Russian cooperation in the following areas:
I. Peace and Security, Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Counteraction to Terrorism and Transnational Crime, including Cooperation with the African Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL)
II. Strengthening International Law, including Principles and Norms of the UN Charter;
III. Economic and Infrastructure Development, including Cooperation within the Framework of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)
IV. Industry and Trade
V. Education, Science, and Development of Human Resources and Skills
VI. Technology and Innovation, including Peaceful Use of Space
VII. Mass Media and Use of Information and Communication Technologies
VIII. Energy
IX. Minerals, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Green Economy
X. Healthcare and Fight Against Infectious Diseases
XI. Culture, Tourism and Sports
XII. Capacity Building, and
XIII. Learning and Promotion of AU and Russian Languages

The second MOU was signed with Mr. Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, under which the two Commissions agreed to cooperate in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, trade, investment and private sector development; as well as in regional economic integration.
Under the signed MOU, the two Commissions will jointly foster dialogue between key African and Eurasian stakeholders, as well as exchange information and experience in areas of mutu