Participation of the Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the international scientific conference ‘Russia and Africa: Legacy of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future’

On 24 September 2025, Irina Olegovna Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economics, Professor, took part in the international scientific conference "Russia and Africa: Legacy of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future," timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding African politician Patrice Lumumba.

Irina Olegovna delivered a speech entitled ‘Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Lumumba,’ in which she emphasised the significance of the Congolese leader's ideas for contemporary African development and the strengthening of ties between Russia and the countries of the continent. In her speech, she also noted the contribution of African scientists to world science, emphasising the need to support the development of scientific research on the continent and expand Russian-African scientific exchange. According to Irina Abramova, Africa is home to a wealth of talent that can make a significant contribution to global technological and scientific progress.

The conference was attended by government and public figures from the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as scholars and experts on the history of Russian-African cooperation. The event aimed to study best practices in Russia-Africa cooperation, analyse key achievements and challenges of the partnership, and create a platform for fruitful dialogue.

The conference became an important platform for exchanging experiences, strengthening academic and public cooperation, and developing proposals for expanding strategic interaction.