Evolving Economic Integration Between Africa and Eurasian Blocs

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the African Union (AU) have established a formal institutional channel to broaden collaboration beyond security into trade, technology, and energy.
• The September 2026 SCO summit and BRICS summit in New Delhi serve as foundations for a new Eurasia-Africa economic architecture.
• Connectivity through logistics, rail projects, and digital infrastructure is central to integrating Eurasian capacity with African markets.

Key Areas of Engagement

• Industrialization and Resources: Focus is shifting from simple raw material extraction to local processing of strategic minerals (e.g., manganese, uranium, gold) in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
• Energy and Technology: Cooperation spans nuclear science, renewable energy projects, electric vehicle manufacturing, and AI-supported monitoring systems, particularly in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Angola.
• Trade Facilitation: Development of maritime routes, including expanded container services to Durban and Dar es Salaam, alongside potential expansion of the International North-South Transport Corridor.

Financial and Infrastructure Foundations

• Emerging financial mechanisms, such as potential SCO payment systems and local-currency settlements, aim to reduce banking costs and transaction dependence.
• The New Development Bank (NDB) is expanding its infrastructure financing portfolio, notably through projects in South Africa and Egypt.
• Strategic maritime and logistics hubs, such as the port of Lomé in Togo and potential bases in Kenya and Mozambique, are being evaluated to link Eurasian supply chains with the African hinterland.