The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Russia discussed plans to strengthen cooperation and advance a draft action plan under a 2018 agreement, the regional bloc said.
The cooperation comes after SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration Angele Makombo N’Tumba met Tatiana Dovgalenko, director of the Department for Partnership with Africa at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Durban on Sunday on the sidelines of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Their talks focused on the status of a draft action plan under the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding on the Basic Principles of Relations and Cooperation between SADC and Russia.
The agreement provides a framework for cooperation in political affairs, industrial development, trade, economic relations, humanitarian activities, science and technology, and social and cultural initiatives.
The two sides discussed ways to operationalise the agreement through finalisation of the draft action plan. Proposed areas of cooperation include digital infrastructure and information and communications technology, economics and finance, agriculture and engagement with non-state actors.
They also discussed steps towards formalising the action plan and the expected start of support for activities to be implemented under the framework.
The meeting also highlighted existing military technical cooperation between SADC and Russia under a separate memorandum covering capacity building, training, research and development, technology transfer and support for regional peace and security.
SADC has expressed interest in cooperation to support its Regional Logistics Depot, the SADC Standby Force and other non-armament capabilities, the bloc said.
The planned third Africa-Russia Summit in 2026 was also identified as an opportunity to further strengthen relations between Russia and African countries in political, economic, scientific, technological, security, cultural and humanitarian areas.
Russia maintains bilateral relations with several SADC member states, contributing to broader engagement between Moscow and the southern African region.
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