International Scientific Conference Russia and Africa: Heritage of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future. Marking the 100th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba

On September 24 at 15:00 (Moscow Standard Time) RUDN University invites to participate in the International Scientific Conference “Russia and Africa: Heritage of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future”, Marking the 100th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba.

The purpose of the conference is to analyze the best practices of cooperation between African countries and Russia, highlight key achievements, problems and prospects of partnership, and create a platform for dialogue and exchange of experience.

Registration via the link.

The link to the live broadcast.

Key topics

• Historical ties between Russia and Africa: from the colonial era to the present.
• Economic and political cooperation: new challenges and opportunities.
• Cultural and scientific exchange between Russia and African countries.
• Prospects for partnerships development in the field of education, technology and sustainable development.
• The role of youth and civil society in strengthening Russian-African relations.

Government and public figures from the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists and experts on the history of Russian-African cooperation make presentations.

At the conference:

• joint efforts by Russia and African countries to establish and strengthen cooperation to be discussed;
• participants discuss responses to new contemporary challenges and opportunities for strengthening foreign policy ties;
• a premiere of a film dedicated to Russian-African partnership and the role of Patrice Lumumba in the African nations struggle for independence. The film was shot by RT (TV network), the film’s crew accompanied the RUDN delegation during its visit to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Conference program

14:00-15:00 Gathering of participants and guests

15:00–15:05 Conference opening.

15:05–15:20 Report by RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov

15:20–15:30 Tatyana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department for Partnership with Africa at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Topic of the report: “Russia—Africa: Partnership and Cooperation”

15:30–16:00 Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
Topic of the report: “Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Patrice Émery Lumumba”

16:00-16:20 Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of Patrice Lumumba, politician, former Minister of Culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topic: “Patrice Lumumba’s Legacy for Humanity”

16:20–16:35 Andrey Maslov, Director of the HSE Center for African Studies
Topic of the report: “The demand for Russian competencies in the field of public administration in Africa”

16:35-16:50 Bakupa-Kanyinda Balufu, Director of the Center for Culture and Art for Central African Countries
Topic of the report: “Russia and Africa: Legacy of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future”

16:50-17:00 Speech by RT CEO Alexey Nikolov and the film’s screenwriter Elena Norkunaite

17:00–18:00 Premiere screening of the RT’s film dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba

Conference working languages: Russian, English, French.