Marrakech – Moroccan Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an official Kremlin reception on Wednesday evening, held for the heads of state, heads of government, and delegations attending the third Russia-Africa Summit. She represented King Mohammed VI at the gathering.
Photographs from the reception show El Mansouri shaking hands with Putin while wearing an elegant golden Moroccan caftan, featuring intricate Makhzani-style embroidery and a matching belt. Her traditional attire brought a distinctly Moroccan touch to the formal diplomatic setting in Moscow.
El Mansouri had arrived in the Russian capital earlier the same day. Photos and footage captured her warm reception as she stepped off the plane, exchanged greetings with members of the welcoming delegation, received a bouquet of flowers, and sampled traditional refreshments during the welcoming ceremony.
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Alongside the Head of Government, Morocco’s delegation to the summit includes Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Morocco’s Ambassador to Russia, Lotfi Bouchaara.
Held on October 28 and 29 under the theme “For peace, security, and development,” the summit brings together African delegations and Russian officials. Its stated aim is to strengthen cooperation between Russia and African states across several strategic sectors, including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, and technology.
The forum opened Wednesday in Moscow with the participation of representatives from African countries that are members of the United Nations.
The event continues a process launched at earlier editions held in Sochi in 2019 and in St. Petersburg in 2023. This week’s gathering drew delegations from 48 countries, with 22 African leaders attending in person.
Addressing the forum, Putin presented Russia as Africa’s best partner and accused what he cast as a colonial West of continuing to exploit the continent’s resources and using debt to hold back its development.
He told leaders that Africa “is increasingly asserting itself” as a key player in global economics and politics, while noting that the shift toward a multipolar world still faces resistance from states tied to their colonial past.
Putin framed the summit as part of a broader global transformation and an end to Western domination, describing the multipolar world as a reality that is both objective and irreversible.
He argued that the era of entire continents having their destinies “determined by a narrow bloc of states” was coming to an irreversible end, giving way to an order in which the voices of all nations must be heard.
By contrast, Putin presented Russia as ready to share its know-how, including digital expertise, and to localize production rather than simply buy raw materials, a model he tied to creating jobs and generating tax revenue. He also called for strengthening Africa’s role in decision-making at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to meet the continent’s needs.
On food security, Putin noted that Russia delivers grain and fertilizers to more than 40 African countries and stands ready to expand supplies. Over the two days, he is expected to hold one-on-one talks with many of the African leaders present on issues such as trade, security, arms, and grain.
The summit marks a renewed Kremlin effort to deepen ties with a continent of nearly 1.6 billion people, whose 54 nations form the largest voting bloc at the United Nations.
