BRICS and Africa: A New Era of Multilateral Partnerships for 2026

Ashraf Patel

Africa’s G20 is done and dusted. Like a teenage dream, it got a rude awakening as Realpolitik hit hard amidst Trump 2.0. 

Overall, Africa’s G20 program outcomes were ‘more symbolism than substance’.  With no deals on African debt nor progress in peace and fair trade, Africa enters a complex geopolitical world. 

The BRICS bloc steps in to deepen partnership potential. Current Realpolik means that the US and EU’s increased military budgets, huge cuts in development aid, and trade wars mean that the  BRICS bloc offers substantive development potential. But can African nations leverage these benefits? Let’s unpack

BRICS is an anchor of Multilateralism, and with AU, ASEAN, and G77, it is a natural partners. BRICS giants have achieved structural transformation, industrialisation and are scaling in global technology value chains. These are also lessons for many emerging nations in Africa. 

Aligning with Africa’s 2026 priorities

As the African Union (AU meets in its 39th Extraordinary meeting, Africa faces a profound water and sanitation crisis, with over 400 million people lacking access to basic drinking water and more than 700 million without safely managed sanitation. The 2026 AU Theme of the Year emphasises sustainable water availability and safe sanitation as essential to achieving the AU’s Agenda 2063, fostering economic growth, social development, and climate resilience.

Addressing Africa's water and sanitation challenges demands a comprehensive, integrated, and people-centred approach that defines Agenda 2063's philosophy of African ownership and African solutions.

The African Union's 2026 priorities and theme of the year: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems" includes key focus areas on advancing climate resilience ahead of COP30, enhancing infrastructure, accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for economic growth, and maintaining peace and security.

Water and Sanitation

The AU is prioritising sustainable water management, improved sanitation systems, and water efficiency to foster development and health across the continent.

BRICS nations have commitments to infrastructure development in the Declaration on water and climate investments, and have endorsed the WHO's declaration on health for all, which provides a firm anchor for development support. India’s progress on mass sanitisation implementation over the past decade is noteworthy, and much co-operation in this area can be leveraged for African nations. 

Climate Change and Environment

Building on the 2025 African Climate Summit, 2026 initiatives focus on climate-resilient development and environmental protection. 

From floods in Mozambique, Limpopo and KZN to droughts in Zimbabwe, BRICS nations have promised climate change as a core anchor. Brazil's leadership of the COP 30 Belen Declaration, Russia as a nuclear tech partners, and China’s Green superpower and support for Loss and Damage Funds are hallmarks of the BRICS nations.

A range of climate resilience technologies and disaster management systems from the BRICS core nations can assist Africa. From solar to water repairs to AI and sustainability, leading BRICS nations have the technology and co-operation will to assist. 

Economic Integration

The agenda focuses on the implementation of the AfCFTA, fostering trade, and developing infrastructure (PIDA) to create jobs and boost economic growth. 

The AFCFTA has been operating for five years, and intra-continental trade is low.  China’s 2025 offering of duty-free access to African nations is a huge boost. The BRICS New Development Bank is already investing and can complement the AU's PIDA program going forward.

Peace and Security

The AU is prioritising conflict resolution, mediation, and enhancing regional security mechanisms to address ongoing conflicts.

Peace and security are elusive in Africa with the mushrooming of wars and conflicts. Many are vulnerable to great power competition. Here, the BRICS nations' stated commitment to multilateralism is good, but individual BRICS nations, such as the UAE’s role in the Sudan civil war, are problematic, and there is an opportunity for the BRICS nations to develop new norms for peace and security. Another opportunity is for support to African peacekeepers. 

Health and Social Development

The AU seeks to focus on areas that include strengthening health systems, particularly sustainable financing for malaria and enhancing social welfare.

Health and Social development are key foundations for BRICS co-operation. The Pandemic treaty at the WHO is a huge boost for developing nations. BRICS nations China and Russia assisted Africa during COVID. 

Challenges such as Affordable IP for health tech and pandemic preparedness are standing programs where BRICS nations have the capacity to scale. Investment in Human Capital Development and rural health is an area where BRICS nations can enhance support in the context of USAID cuts.   

An example is Egypt’s Gypto Pharma City, a large-scale pharmaceutical hub north of Cairo. Local production can reduce import dependency, increase self-sufficiency in healthcare, and provide a high-value industrial avenue. Egypt’s focus on building a robust pharmaceutical ecosystem aligns with the need for African countries to develop medical and pharmaceutical industries that meet domestic needs and integrate into the global supply chain. South Africa can tap into these fellow BRICS partnerships to make AFCFTA a reality.

Institutional Reform

The 2026 budget sees increased self-financing, reflecting a commitment to institutional reform and reducing reliance on international partners.

The AU has long been criticised for being donor dependent, and some level of autonomy is welcome. However, AU reforms should deepen and generate self-resourcing. There is a need to boost African Peacekeeping as US budget cuts to the UN are a new reality. Many UN agencies based in Nairobi face major cuts. 

African Digitalisation

The integration of digital technologies and AI into key sectors like energy and transport is a priority for infrastructure development. 

Africa’s industrialisation is lagging behind other developing regions. This renewed focus aims to address fundamental local challenges such as economic diversification, job creation and the energy transition, and also aligns with the global megatrends such as digitalisation and green industrialisation.

The BRICS model of Digital Industrialisation is relevant. Investment in AI capacity and human capital development, as well as broadband and connectivity in line with the AU Digital Transformation Strategy 2030, are critical in order to boost education and economic development. AI strategies can only succeed if the basic and intermediate infrastructures, such as Energy and broadband, are in place. Here, the BRICS model is more compelling and relevant for Africa. 

As the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February will finalise these initiatives, 2026 is a turning point for Global South Multilateralism. Hence, a new BRICS- Africa narrative and partnerships in the Global South are needed. 

This is an opportune time for a new Africa Union – BRICS Partnership Forum, underpinned by a new Charter which can be a prime mover as Global South co-operation grows in a brave new world.

* Ashraf Patel is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue, UNISA.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.