What Africa expects from BRICS Summit in Brazil
Daria Zelenova, Head of the Centre for African Strategy in BRICS, Institute of Africa, Russian Academy of Sciences, Expert of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, spoke the importance of the upcoming BRICS Summit for African countries.
For the BRICS African member countries and partners, the upcoming Summit is an important event, testifying to the growing geopolitical significance of the African continent.
Ahead of the Summit, Centre for African Strategy in BRICS, Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences reviewed statements by African officials in the media, highlighting key topics that concern African countries within BRICS and its partners.
So, for Nigeria, which officially entered the association in the status of a partner country in 2025, the Rio Summit will be an attempt to reach new deeper levels of cooperation with the association, including with the aim of exploring the prospect of full membership in the future. Nigeria is currently the only West African country in the BRICS, but as a partner, for which it is very important to continue to strengthen the status of a regional power. Other key expectations of Nigeria include: strengthening positions in global markets, especially in trade and energy, attracting investment, working on cybersecurity projects.
For South Africa, chairs the G20 this year, the upcoming BRICS Summit in Rio is a major event in its foreign policy schedule, since, based on the principle of multilateralism, South Africa traditionally views BRICS as a platform for promoting new conditions for a fair multipolar world. South Africa, as the first BRICS member country from the African continent, continues to see itself as the leading voice of Africa in uniting and guiding the interests of the entire Global South. The Rio Summit is being held under the slogan "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance," while taking place against the backdrop of the expansion of the BRICS and the aggravation of geopolitical contradictions. Reforming global governance institutions and financial institutions is a strategic priority. South Africa remains the main driver of trade in the region, it will support initiatives to increase investment and financial cooperation within the BRICS, as well as work towards pairing financial initiatives between the BRICS and the Afro-Union. Business forums and meetings of finance ministers at the Summit are seen as opportunities to advance these goals. In addition, the climate agenda, a traditionally important item for South Africa, will certainly take priority on the overall Summit agenda, especially given that Brazil is holding COP30 at the end of 2025. South Africa stands out from all African countries with an ambitious and structured Just Energy Transition Plan (JET IP), which sets out a comprehensive path to decarbonisation, social protection and economic diversification. South Africa's approach to addressing climate justice is consistent with Brazil's.
As a new BRICS member, Egypt seeks to use unification primarily to diversify its ties with the West. Through BRICS, Egypt expects to ensure domestic economic growth and strengthen its role as the leading power of the African continent in global governance institutions, primarily in the UN Security Council. Egypt's key expectations from the Rio Summit are related to the transition to settlements in national currencies. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has repeatedly stressed the need for settlements in national currencies and the creation of large projects in industry, digitalization, renewable energy and agriculture. Egypt sees this as an opportunity to address chronic foreign currency shortages and diversify reserves. In addition, Egypt expects increased investment from the BRICS countries - especially China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Russia. Egypt expects to use its BRICS membership to secure important imports (especially wheat and rice) and open new markets for its exports. Finally, we must not forget about Egypt's ambitions as a regional power that sees itself as the gateway to the African continent from the countries of the Middle East and Eurasia.
Daria Zelenova, Head of the Centre for African Strategy in BRICS, Institute of Africa, Russian Academy of Sciences, Expert of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia
Ethiopia is approaching the BRICS Summit with the intention of strengthening economic cooperation. Ethiopia is expected to actively participate in discussions on tourism development and agricultural modernization. Thus, the government's priorities include the opening of new tourist destinations. The Minister of Tourism has repeatedly stressed that the country's accession to the BRICS stimulates investment in national tourism, which strengthens social and economic development. While Ethiopia seeks to strengthen Africa's collective voice within BRICS, it avoids positioning itself as the continent's sole representative. Instead, officials including Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Leulseged Tadese have repeatedly stressed the importance of African-wide joint engagement, noting that South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia - as BRICS members - should work together to advance shared continental interests. However, not on all issues it turns out to achieve a compromise. For example, Ethiopia refused to support any language that seemed to single out South Africa as a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Ethiopia is actively seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025-2026 and sees the BRICS as a strategic arena to lobby for support. At the BRICS Summit, Ethiopia is expected to continue to push for consensus African representation while participating in BRICS multisectoral discussions. In April-May 2025, Ethiopia held a high-level AU dialogue on artificial intelligence in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that Africa intends to become an active participant in the development of AI innovation, and not remain only a consumer of technology. Ethiopia, by joining the BRICS, is likely to advance the formation of an international framework for AI cooperation that addresses Africa's key priorities.
Among the diversity of the African agenda in the BRICS, general trends can be distinguished. First of all, there is interest in expanding trade in national currencies, as well as strengthening intra-African trade under the AfCFTA, expanding cooperation in the field of health and cybersecurity.
It should be noted that among the African BRICS participants, South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda (these countries were among the first on the continent to adopt relevant documents), as well as Egypt. Cooperation on the information security track, v.t.h. countering terrorism in the cyber sphere is extremely important for African states that are interested in strengthening technological sovereignty.
An important common position among the African BRICS members is the support of the people of Palestine and a sharp condemnation of Israel's aggression. Ethiopia is the only country from the African BRICS participants and partners that refrains from openly criticizing Israel and takes a restrained position on the Palestinian issue. Unlike South Africa and Egypt, which actively condemn Israeli actions in Gaza and support Palestine, Ethiopia traditionally avoids harsh statements by adhering to neutrality. At the same time, within the framework of the collective position of the African Union and BRICS, Ethiopia supports joint declarations condemning Israel's actions and calling for an end to violence. Therefore, in the final declaration of the Summit, one should expect the promotion of the position of the African Union on the creation of two states and the end of the Israeli occupation, since it is consistent with the position of most countries of the union.
Thus, the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil is perceived by the African members of the association, as well as BRICS partners, as an opportunity to strengthen Africa's position in the changing world order. For these states, the issues of reforming global governance institutions, expanding access to financial resources of the New Development Bank and promoting trade on the principles of equality and mutual benefit are of particular importance.
Expectations also focus on practical steps to develop infrastructure, support industrialization, stimulate mutual trade and diversify economies. Health topics remain equally important, including the localization of drug and vaccine production, as well as the development of health systems based on the introduction of modern technologies. In fact, these areas traditionally occupy an important place on the BRICS agenda, reflecting the desire of the association to contribute to sustainable development, reduce inequality and strengthen cooperation between the countries of the Global South.
The material was prepared specially for the BRICS Expert Council - Russia
This text reflects the personal opinion of the authors', which may not coincide with the position of the BRICS Expert Council - Russia