African Currents

About 35,000 African students are currently enrolled in Russian universities, with this number growing each year. Education initiatives like the Russian-African Network University and various university partnerships are expected to enhance academic mobility for African students and scholars.

The global chocolate industry generates billions yearly, relying heavily on Africa, which produces 70% of the world's cocoa beans. However, Africa captures only a tiny share of the market, dominated by Western chocolatiers that benefit from price volatility and arbitrage, undermining the livelihoods of African cocoa farmers.

Southern Africa boasts a vast and diverse and flourishing ecosystem that makes it a prime tourist destination. Recognizing the need for enhanced regional integration and socio-economic development, countries in the subregion have embraced a unified visa regime to unlock tourism's full potential to drive economic growth.

The imminent launch of Ethiopia's first stock exchange and its emergence as Africa's fifth-largest economy are testament to the country's economic growth, which has been spurred by sweeping reforms in critical sectors of the economy.

The menace of drug abuse among Africa's young population has spiked in recent years. According to the UN's 2021 World Drug Report, the number of drug users globally is projected to hit 11 percent by 2030, which translates to 40 percent in Africa. However, there are concerted efforts by governments on the continent to tackle the problem.

Western technologies have become the backbone of every economic sector in any country in Africa. This over-dependence begs for a critical self-assessment by African governments to address this widespread problem and prioritize fostering homegrown inventions and innovations to attain technological sovereignty.

Africa's working-age population [15-64] is expected to double by 2050, yet African nations' spending on education is low, yielding slow progress in educational outcomes, an IMF's report from April said. Thus, countries on the continent should increase their education budget to attain universal enrollment by 2030, the IMF concluded.

The Russian president's state visits to long-standing allies underscore the Moscow's efforts to bolster its strategic partnerships with its Asian neighbors. These visits highlight the necessity of diplomacy, mutual respect, and shifting from a hegemonic unipolar system to a multipolar world order.

Pragmatic economic reforms have positioned Edo State as a top investment hub in Nigeria. This is exemplified by Edo granting Russia's state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, a lithium exploration and processing license.

During its annual meeting this year in Nairobi, Kenya, the president of Africa's multilateral development finance institution, Akinwumi Adesina, presented the institution’s fresh blueprint for the next decade, aimed at steering the continent toward long-term economic development and prosperity.

Relations between France and its former colonies in Africa has drastically thawed, resulting in its diminished influence in those countries. Also, New Caledonia's recent unrest begs the question: Why is France's influence under Emmanuel Macron's presidency?