Russia – Africa
Africa on the Global Agenda: Challenges and Partnership Prospects
The panel session “Africa in the Modern World” will be held as part of the business program of the World Public Assembly: A New Era of Cooperation and Partnership.” The central theme of the platform is the role of public diplomacy in addressing the urgent problems of humanitarian and economic development on the African continent.
The formation of a multipolar world order remains a pivotal historical trend at the current stage of global development. Africa is one of the most dynamically developing poles, where, thanks to public diplomacy, relations are expanding, trust between countries is strengthening, and new foundations for cooperation are being formed. Integration processes, the desire to strengthen statehood and create sustainable national economies are reflected in the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The World Peoples Assembly attaches great importance to the development of ties with Africa, including cooperation with individual States, regional associations and, above all, with the African Union. The panellists will discuss the priority formats of public diplomacy, as well as prepare a final communique that considers the principle of “African Problems – an African Solution” and modern areas of international cooperation in high technology, education, science, medicine and IT. The main basis of the dialogue is respect for the sovereignty of African States, their traditions, values and their desire to determine their own future.
The participants will discuss Africa’s strategic place in the emerging multipolar world and the role of public diplomacy in building trust between States. The focus will be on integration processes, international networking, humanitarian cooperation and the development of recommendations that will be included in the final document of the World Peoples Assembly.
The panel session will be moderated by Igor Shpynov (Russia), a representative of the World Peoples Assembly, an expert in international humanitarian cooperation, diplomat, and Serge Phocas (Benin), founding President of the House of Africa in Moscow, a public figure who has been promoting the ideas of intercultural dialogue and African unity for many years.
Representatives of government agencies, international organizations, parliamentary and cultural institutions, as well as leaders of public initiatives and the expert community, plan to take part in the discussion:
- Konstantin Volkov, Head of the Organizational and Analytical Department of Rossotrudnichestvo (Russia);
- Tatyana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department of Partnership with Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Russia);
- Yanina Dubeykovskaya, Founding President of the Foundation for Humanitarian Aid to Africa “Her Voice” and the Gallery of African Art “Ya-A” (Russia);
- Oleg Kobyakov, Director of the FAO Office for Relations with the Russian Federation (Russia);
- Lowe Rohey Malick, the first female Mayor of Banjul (Gambia);
- Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Co-Chairman of RIO (Russia);
- Igor Morozov, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Economic Cooperation with African Countries (AFROCOM) (Russia);
- Nathalie-Aziza Munana, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity of the DR Congo (Congo);
- Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi, Wife of the King of the Yoruba People (Nigeria), Deputy Head of the Educational Initiative for Africa;
- Dominique Saatenang, Founding President of the African Martial Arts Festival (FADAM), world champion in Kung Fu and Ambassador of the BRICS 2024 Games (Cameroon);
- Sekgoma Boemo, Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Head of the SADC Youth Parliament (Nigeria);
- Tulikunkiko François-Xavier, Chairman of the Union of the African Diaspora ” Inganzo Gakondo”, CEO of International Agency – Rafiki LLC (Rwanda).
Also, representatives of the diplomatic corps from a number of African countries will take part in the discussion.
One of the participants in the session, Dominique Saatenang, founding President of the African Martial Arts Festival (FADAM), world champion in kung fu and Ambassador of the BRICS 2024 Games, noted the importance of supporting youth through sports and education:
“I tried to promote sports education for young people as the most important tool for educating new generations. I welcome the initiatives of the World Peoples Assembly aimed at supporting and strengthening youth in Africa. This panel session will be another step towards developing mutual understanding, partnership and a stable future for the continent.”
The platform’s work will result in practical recommendations reflected in the outcome document of the World Public Assembly, as well as agreed approaches to expanding humanitarian and economic cooperation with Africa based on the principles of mutual respect and partnership.
Russia – Africa: Africa on the Global Agenda at WPA, Moscow
