Ethiopia can host Russia-Africa Summit in 2026 – South African diplomat

Addis Ababa, February 27, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia can host the third Russia-Africa summit in 2026 as it has the necessary infrastructure, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka told Russian media.

The Ambassador explained that in order to host the event, the country must receive an invitation from the African Union, Sputnik reported.

“The thing is that this is a multilateral summit in which Russia and African countries take part. And we cannot extend an invitation to ourselves. So, on this matter, Moscow needs to contact the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, where the headquarters of the African Union is located,” Maqetuka added.

During the interview the topic of further expansion of BRICS was also touched upon.

The diplomat recalled that China, during its chairmanship, initiated the issue of expanding BRICS, and the leaders of the countries of the association, including, of course, South Africa, recognized the necessity of this process.

“BRICS will still face the issue of enlargement in the foreseeable future. […] But [at the forum] in Kazan, of course, new members will join the association. In total, about 25 countries have announced their intention to join BRICS,” the official said.

The Russian city of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan Republic, will host the 16th BRICS Summit in October, during which meetings of the ministers of science, technology and innovation, ministers of culture and ministers of communications of the BRICS countries are planned, as well as an academic forum of the association, said the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov.

Note that the third Russia-Africa summit will be held in 2026 in one of the African countries, according to Vsevolod Tkachenko, director of the Department of Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry. It is to be recalled that the second summit took place in the northern capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, in July 2023.