Russia and African countries have established the Russian–African Youth Union to strengthen cooperation among young people through education, cultural exchanges, shared experiences and coordinated youth initiatives.
The union was launched at MGIMO University in Moscow on October 28, on the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa Summit.
Participants included Stanislav Surovtsev, MGIMO Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Relations; Ahmed Wiisichong, Secretary General of the Pan-African Youth Union; and representatives of Russian and African public associations, the public sector, and business.
The organization has no specific political aims, and its joint work will be based on the principles of voluntary participation, equality of votes and opinions, and mutual respect, the founders of the RAYU stressed. Among the signatories were representatives of Ethiopia, South Africa, and two international organizations headquartered in Morocco.
“I believe the Russian–African Youth Union can become an important platform for strengthening ties between the youth of Russia and Africa, promoting mutual respect and a better understanding of one another. It can help move from diplomatic dialogue to concrete joint action based on shared interests. Cultural and educational exchanges are especially important for the further development of cooperation,” said forum participant Mai Kom Hoth from South Sudan.
The goal of the newly created Union is to strengthen existing ties and to coordinate Russian and African youth structures more intensively. Work in this area must become systematic, the participants of the meeting noted. Membership requirements include activity in the youth sphere and participation in at least one RAYU flagship event per year.
The Russian–African Youth Union will function as an integral part of the secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which operates under the auspices of the Department for Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry. A coordinating role is played by the Russia–Africa: What’s Next? Forum, based at MGIMO. Among the RAYU’s immediate plans are holding a congress to elect co-chairs and approve strategic plans.
Meeting participants gave particular attention to the practical areas of the RAYU’s future work: creating a single platform to coordinate youth organizations in Russia and Africa, share experience, and pool resources; developing educational exchanges and expanding opportunities for Russian students to study in African countries; and supporting international graduates of Russian universities, helping their professional development and strengthening their ties with Russia.
The meeting concluded with a ceremonial signing of the Founding Act of the Russian–African Youth Union, marking the official establishment of the RAYU.
Dmitry Ivanov, General Director of the World Youth Festival Directorate, commenting on the outcome of the founding meeting, stressed the importance of maintaining and increasing efforts in international communication between the young generations of Africa and Russia. He noted that since 2024, more than 3,000 representatives of African youth have taken part in the series of WYF events.
“Through the festival movement, we have managed to strengthen friendly ties with the youth of Africa and with the heads of youth policy in the countries of the African continent. For us, building long-term relationships based on trust and mutual respect is a priority in working with our colleagues,” Dmitry Ivanov.
Adding that: “We have repeatedly confirmed our intentions during visits by representatives of Rosmolodezh, the WYFD, and other Russian organizations to the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Mali, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Rwanda. And this work is bearing good fruit. For example, more than 880 Africans took part in the International Festival of Youth – 2026 held in Ekaterinburg, as well as heads of ministries responsible for youth policy from Algeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The creation of the Russian–African Youth Union is important because it moves our countries’ cooperation in the youth sphere into formats of even more intensive, systematic work.”
It is worth noting that on October 29, as part of the youth track of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, an expert session with representatives of the World Youth Festival Directorate will also take place. It will be devoted to the participation of Africans in the International Festival of Youth – 2026 and to the development of Russian-African humanitarian and youth cooperation through the projects, programs, and communities of the WYFD.
World Youth Festival
The World Youth Festival was held from March 1 to 7, 2024, in Sirius pursuant to a decree issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin. It brought together 20,000 participants from 190 countries and established a community of young leaders willing to take responsibility for the future of their countries.
To preserve the legacy of the World Youth Festival 2024 and further develop dialogue among young leaders, international youth events in Russia are held on a regular basis.
In 2025, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the World Youth Festival Assembly, bringing together 2,000 participants from 120 countries. In 2026, Ekaterinburg hosted the International Festival of Youth, which brought together 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries.
