Addis Ababa, October 22, 2026 (FMC) — Peace, investment in human development and mutually beneficial international cooperation are essential to Africa’s long-term prosperity, while war diverts resources from education, healthcare and nation-building, Lindiwe Sisulu, former South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, has argued.
In her commentary ahead of the Third Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow, Sisulu reflects on the human and economic costs of conflict, Africa’s historical experiences with colonialism and the importance of strengthening partnerships that advance peace and development.
Drawing on her experience as South Africa’s former Minister of Defence, she expresses concern that some countries allocate a greater share of their revenues to purchasing weapons than to feeding children and supporting their education.
“Nobody prospers from war except the arms industry,” she writes, arguing that conflict does not build people, societies or nations. Instead, she maintains, lasting progress comes through peace and investment in human potential.
Sisulu also highlights her role on the jury of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize, which was established in 2022 to recognise individuals and organisations demonstrating their commitment to peace through action.
She links the prize’s philosophy to the convictions of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, who opposed violence, and to Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy of non-violence developed in part during his time in South Africa. Gandhi named his farm near Johannesburg Tolstoy Farm, reflecting the influence of Tolstoy’s ideas on his thinking.
According to Sisulu, the prize’s international jury, comprising representatives from different countries and continents, reflects the principle that peace should not be defined from a single centre.
The African Union became the prize’s first laureate in 2024, while this year’s award went to Vietnam’s leader, To Lam. Sisulu says she was proud to participate in the jury’s decision, noting the significance of recognising a people whose history has been marked by war and suffering.
Reflecting on the African Union’s recognition, she also draws attention to the continent’s colonial legacy, arguing that many of Africa’s conflicts cannot be understood without considering the historical relationship between colonisers and colonised peoples.
Sisulu’s perspective on international cooperation is also shaped by her personal experience of South Africa’s struggle against oppression. She expresses gratitude to the people of the former Soviet Union, saying they provided South Africans fleeing oppression with education, healthcare, knowledge and political support without demanding anything in return.
She describes South Africa as her first home and Russia as her second, emphasising the enduring nature of the relationship and its significance across generations.
Looking ahead, Sisulu argues that Africa has the resources to achieve far greater levels of development if countries process more of their raw materials domestically and direct their resources towards education, healthcare and productive economic activity.
She sees the upcoming Russia–Africa Summit as an opportunity to translate longstanding ties into practical cooperation. The Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which will take place alongside the summit under the theme “Together We Develop Mutually Beneficial Cooperation and the Potential of Every African Country,” offers a framework for advancing that objective, she writes.
For Sisulu, peace and development are inseparable. She calls for stronger partnerships in education, healthcare, science and industry, stressing that cooperation must deliver tangible benefits to African countries and their people.
She also proposes introducing Russian into African school curricula to enable young people to communicate directly and deepen mutual understanding.
Sisulu concludes that Africa’s future depends on using its wealth and partnerships to build prosperous societies rather than allowing conflict to consume the resources needed for human development. For her, the message is clear: peace creates the conditions for nations to grow, while cooperation turns that possibility into lasting progress.
Reporter: Ashebir Kasahun