Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited African countries to join A7, a Russian-backed international payment system, promising faster cross-border transactions, lower costs and greater independence from external financial restrictions.
Putin made the invitation during the third Russia-Africa Summit, where African leaders were introduced to A7’s international payment capabilities during a tour of an exhibition showcasing advanced Russian technological solutions.
He said the system supports online transactions using both traditional and digital currencies, describing the technology as a convenient and transparent option for international payments conducted in accordance with international law.
“Digital currencies are developing both in the United States and in Russia. Why can’t the African continent join this high-tech system?” Putin asked.
He also highlighted the system’s sovereign nature and its ability to operate independently of external restrictions.
“No one will cut you off. With modern technology, it is impossible to block these payments. Simply impossible,” Putin said.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov outlined A7’s plans for the African market, highlighting the speed and cost of transactions processed through the platform.
“Payments are fast, just one click, and the fee is only 0.3 per cent. That is an extremely low transaction fee,” Siluanov said.
Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Office, said Russian banks, working with foreign partners and non-bank financial institutions, were already facilitating international payments without relying on the Western financial system.
He said Russia was prepared to share the technology with other countries.
A7 has been expanding its presence in Africa, opening representative offices in Nigeria and Zimbabwe in 2025 as part of efforts to develop international payment infrastructure across the continent.
Established in 2024 with the participation of Russian bank PSB, A7 operates a payment infrastructure covering more than 100 countries, with over 15,000 businesses involved in foreign trade using its services.
The company reported that the total value of payments processed through its infrastructure exceeded 10 trillion roubles in 2025.
Juseph Jegede
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