AFRICA IN A CHANGING WORLD: 40 Strategic Notes from a Global Convergence of Academics, Diplomats and Students

On April 4, 2023, the XXIV (YASIN) International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, was held with the focus on deliberating on the place of Africa in a changing world. From academics to diplomats and students, challenges, ideas, and solutions were discussed from different perspectives. “Humanity is facing an era of great change, a time for the emergence of a new and fairer multipolar world, a period for overcoming the insane exploitation of the global majority by the first-world billionaire elite,” Valeriia Gorbacheva, head of the Multilateral Strategic Project Office, said during the plenary session.

In this piece, after analysing the views of the participants, our analyst documents key points from different discourses that evolved during the session.

Barbara Rwodzi, Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry of the Republic of Zimbabwe

• In her educational institutions, Russia educates Africans.
• For over 20 years, the West has sanctioned Zimbabwe.
• Zimbabwe supports Russia, and Russia supports Zimbabwe.
• Africa’s largest trade agreement is benefiting both parties.
• The natural and cultural resources of Africa are critical to unlocking the continent’s growth with any partner, particularly Russia. We are ready to partner with countries that share our desire for growth and development.

Lindiwe Sisulu, Member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress

• The world changes, and Africa changes in a new order. Africa’s roles in defining the new order are more important now than they were previously.
• We have clear and audacious strategic leadership in place to improve social and political institutions.
• With the collapse of globalisation, Africa must actively seek its agents.
• Africa’s place in a changing world is critical.
• Our resources must be used more efficiently.

Alexey Vasiliev, Honorary President, Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

• Africa is the world’s major revolution.
• Africa’s population will be a factor in the future. Its expansion indicates the need to work on how to feed the people and make the youth useful to the continent and the world as a whole.
• Africa is growing faster than most Western countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Africa’s key prospects are population and education, which could be used to unlock its growth and development in all areas.
• Despite various stereotypes from the global north, Africa will be more developed if it can become more united in a multipolar world. Industries are now migrating to the continent, indicating that the continent is attracting businesses due to a labour shortage in the region.
• Africa requires immediate food production. Russia has the capability of expanding its fertilizer capacity.
• Russia has the ability to assist in the field of health.
• Russia is assisting Egypt in the development of nuclear energy. This is one of the Russian government’s ongoing efforts to assist Africa in all areas.

Vladimir Shubin, Principal Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

• Multipolar and multicenter are not new concepts in the world. They have been around since the 1960s. I’m not a fan of their current fashion.
• Fake news, misinformation, and disinformation are spreading more quickly across the continent.

Ezzat Saad El Sayed, Director, Egyptian Council of Foreign Affairs

• Because of its difficulties, Africa has become a lost coast in global politics. This has largely resulted in a variety of pessimistic views of the continent. Despite this, it has the potential to expand in all directions.
• The Ukraine crisis has reshaped Africa’s place in a changing world.
• Africa’s international roles have been reshaped and reformed.
• What is going on in Ukraine is not a battle for Africa.
• Russia should increase its investments in Africa.
• Some countries in the global north are depleting Africa’s resources.

Andrey Maslow, Director, Centre for African Studies, Higher School of Economics

• In today’s rapidly changing world, specificity is essential.
• Specificity is required for addressing and exploring issues and opportunities. Summit should be used to correct problems.
• Increase the number of African students studying here; increase stipends.
• Continuous education should be provided, and postgraduates should be retrained.
• All of these things are being done by our competitors.
• We must harness the continent’s human development potential.
• We need to go beyond summit to summit. We require critical investment with potentially enormous returns.
• It is critical to trade in Russian currency.

Leonid Issaev, Deputy Director, Centre for Stability and Risk Analysis, Higher School of Economics

• We must pay close attention to the Middle East.
• Africa is affected by global crises and insecurity.
• We must learn to communicate with each other.

Jean-Baptiste Tiathie Tine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Senegal to the Russian Federation

• We need support from our partners, including Russia.
• Agenda 2063 of the African Union is very important for our development.
• If Russia takes part in the implementation of the agenda, it would be a competitive platform for her.