Russia is moving closer to establishing a diplomatic presence in every African country, with only a handful of nations left before it achieves continent-wide coverage, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Speaking at a meeting of the Business Council under the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov announced that Moscow plans to open new embassies in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo and the Union of the Comoros.
“Next on the agenda is the launch of diplomatic missions in The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Union of the Comoros,” he said. The move follows the opening of Russian embassies in Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan in 2025.
“There will be literally four or five countries left where we still need to establish full-fledged embassies, and then we will have 100 percent coverage of the entire African continent with our diplomatic presence,” Lavrov said, describing the effort as the final stage of rebuilding Russia’s diplomatic network after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Preparations for the four new missions are already underway. Anatoly Bashkin, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of African States to the South, said all decisions relating to the embassy in The Gambia have been completed and an ambassador has already been appointed.
In Togo and Comoros, officials are still working through practical arrangements, including securing embassy premises and recruiting staff. An ambassador to Togo has yet to be named.
Lavrov said the expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen Russia’s engagement with Africa. He noted that Moscow has also created a new Foreign Ministry department dedicated to African partnerships.
“Expanding Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent contributes to developing relations,” he said.
Russia currently operates 45 embassies across Africa, including in major economies such as Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt. The latest expansion is focused on smaller countries that often receive less attention from Western powers but remain strategically important because of their voting influence at the United Nations, their regional roles, and their access to key maritime routes and trade corridors.
The diplomatic push comes as Western sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine continue to limit Russia’s access to global finance, trade and technology. Those pressures have pushed Moscow to deepen ties with partners across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Russia has also faced domestic fuel shortages and transport disruptions following Ukrainian strikes on parts of its energy infrastructure. While those challenges are not driving its Africa strategy, they have reinforced the need for broader international partnerships.
Economic ties between Russia and Africa have continued to expand. Lavrov told the Business Council that trade with African countries exceeded $27 billion last year and is still growing, although he said there is significant room for further expansion. He described stronger trade, investment and economic cooperation with Africa as an “unconditional priority” for Russia.
Officials are now preparing the next phase of the partnership. A 2027–2029 action plan is being finalised following the Russia-Africa ministerial conference held in Cairo in December 2025. The roadmap is expected to be adopted at the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow in late October 2026, where discussions are expected to centre on energy, digital technology, artificial intelligence and alternative payment systems as Russia and African governments seek to reduce their dependence on Western-dominated financial networks.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah