Picture one big cake on a table. Africa holds many of the world's critical minerals, a young and growing market, and political votes in global forums. Around the table sit Russia, China, the United States, the European Union, Türkiye, the Gulf states and others. Each one tells the host, "I am your best friend, and the others are not."
A summit season
The pattern is plain in the calendar. Major powers have competed for years through summits and high-level visits, pushing narratives on Ukraine and Africa's debt, pursuing security partnerships and seeking critical minerals.
The US-Africa Leaders Summit, with Biden telling 49 leaders the US was "all in on Africa's future", was one example. The EU's Global Gateway promised 150 billion euros in 2022, and China's Belt and Road brought in 37 of Africa's 55 countries.
This week it is Moscow's turn. The third Russia-Africa Summit, on 28 and 29 October 2026, was prepared with a push for concrete agreements in trade, investment, infrastructure and energy. There Vladimir Putin told African leaders that Russia is their best partner and accused the West of colonial habits and of using debt to hold Africa back.
Everyone claims to be different
Each host sells a story of difference. Moscow says it opposes neo-colonial exploitation and offers local processing, education and grain. Brussels talks of trade, critical minerals and migration.
A Europe-Africa summit in Luanda last November pledged to boost trade and tackle migration, while Africa has emerged as a battleground for minerals and energy. A European think tank analyst noted that the Gulf states and Türkiye have made inroads, giving African nations choice and bargaining power against the EU.
The competition is also tense among the guests themselves. In the Sahel, an analysis points to rivalry between Russia and Türkiye over arms procurement. Africans are being asked to prove loyalty to whoever is hosting.
Why the cake is really Africa's
African states have gained from multiplying partners, because choice improves bargaining power. The risk is in the terms: debt, raw-material export without value addition, security deals without accountability, and aid with strings.
The question for each partner is the same: what is made here, who is hired here, and who owns what is built here?
The African Union recognizes nine partnerships, with mixed results in coordinating them. That tells us the problem is not a shortage of partners but a shortage of a common African position.
A bargain made country by country is weaker than one made by a bloc that agrees on minimum terms for minerals, debt and security.
The way forward
Africa does not need to pick a side or to prove anything to anyone. It needs to decide what it wants from the table, and then invite whoever will deliver it on African terms: local processing, fair financing, technology transfer and respect for sovereignty. Until then, every summit will look more like a sales pitch than a partnership.
Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880
Sources and References
TRT Afrika / AP (28 Oct 2026). "Russia-Africa summit: Putin says Russia is a better partner to Africa than 'colonial' West." https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/3c8275dea1fe
BusinessDay Nigeria. "3rd Russia-Africa Summit: what are the stakes." https://businessday.ng/news/article/3rd-russia-africa-summit-what-are-the-stakes/
J.S. Held. "World powers on a charm offensive in Africa." https://jsheld.com/insights/articles/world-powers-on-a-charm-offensive-in-africa
The Article. "Africa: as the West falters, China consolidates." https://www.thearticle.com/africa-as-the-west-falters-china-consolidates
North Africa Post. "Africa pays price as global powers jostle for its gas and critical minerals." https://northafricapost.com/?p=67365
AFP via EWN (25 Nov 2025). "EU, Africa pledge to boost trade, tackle migration at summit." https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/11/25/eu-africa-pledge-to-boost-trade-tackle-migration-at-summit
TRT Afrika (24 Nov 2025). "Africa, EU leaders to talk trade, minerals in summit aimed at improving partnerships." https://www.trtafrika.com/article/2297bdf6eee4
EUISS (Dec 2025). "The Multi-Aligned Sahel: Reframing the EU's role in a crowded region." https://www.iss.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-12/Brief_2025-28_Multialignment%20in%20the%20Sahel.pdf
ISS Africa. "How to rationalise Africa's many partnerships?" https://issafrica.org/pscreport/psc-insights/how-to-rationalise-africas-many-partnerships
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