The Minister for @mfa_tanzania Hon. Ambassador @mahmoudkombo
, led the Tanzanian delegation to the Second Africa, Russia Foreign Ministers’ Forum, held on 19–20 December 2025 in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. The Forum brought together African Foreign Ministers, representatives of African Regional Economic Communities, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and H.E. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. It provided a platform for Africa and Russia to engage in in-depth consultations and reach consensus on key issues of mutual interest at both bilateral and multilateral levels, including within the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Ministers from Africa and Russia reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations and underscored the need for comprehensive reforms of its organs, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to enhance Africa’s representation, strengthen accountability and effectiveness, promote a fair and equitable global trading system, and ensure equal participation of all nations in global decision-making processes.
During the Forum, Minister Kombo delivered a statement highlighting the strong and longstanding diplomatic relations between Tanzania and the Russian Federation, as well as the strategic areas of cooperation currently being advanced by the two countries. He emphasized that the historic partnership between Russia and African countries, rooted in solidarity before and during the struggles against colonialism, should be further strengthened, with increased focus on deepening economic cooperation. In this regard, he underscored priority sectors including infrastructure and transportation, energy and renewable energy, technology, information and communication technologies (ICT), and health. He noted that enhanced collaboration in these strategic sectors would significantly support Africa’s efforts to accelerate economic growth and development.
In addressing food security challenges on the African continent, Minister Kombo emphasized the importance of increased Russian investment in agriculture, particularly in sustainable farming practices, agro-processing industries, and fertilizer production, as critical components of Africa’s food security agenda.
The Africa–Russia Foreign Ministers’ Forum was established in 2023, pursuant to the resolutions of the Russia–Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government held in the Russian Federation. The Forum serves as a mechanism for reviewing and advancing the implementation of the outcomes and decisions adopted at the Summit.
Africa–Russia engagements continue to provide a framework for identifying, deliberating, and agreeing on concrete measures to enhance cooperation in key strategic areas, including economic development, peace and security, counter-terrorism and the fight against transnational organized crime, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security, and sustainable development.
