Russia Launches 5,000 Scholarships for African Students Amid Growing Educational Ties

Russia has made available over 5,000 state-funded university slots for students from African nations in the current academic year, as reported by the head of the state-supported cultural diplomacy agency, Rossotrudnichestvo.

Yevgeny Primakov shared this information during the opening of the Russia-Africa Expo 2025 in Moscow, stating that they received more than 40,000 applications this year, which is double the number from the previous period. He noted that the largest number of applicants came from Sudan, Guinea, Ghana, and Chad.

Primakov emphasized that Moscow is actively enhancing its humanitarian and educational ties with African countries.

«We are currently working on projects in five pivotal countries: Egypt, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, and Ethiopia,» he remarked.

Additionally, he revealed plans to further expand the network of Russian cultural and educational centers, known as Russkiy Dom (“Russian Houses”), aimed at bolstering Russia’s cultural and academic influence on the continent.

«Through our partnership program, we’ve established agreements with 14 centers across various African nations,» Primakov stated.

The increasing number of Russian Houses indicates a growing interest in Russian education and language among young Africans, he added.

«Many African countries now offer Russian language courses, and participating in these opens up opportunities for Russian scholarships, university placements, career paths, and a different lifestyle,» he noted.

However, some critics claim that Russian Houses serve as fronts for covert Kremlin propaganda and disinformation efforts in the regions where they operate.

Primakov also mentioned that Rossotrudnichestvo intends to broaden its scholarship initiatives beyond Africa.

In July, he announced that Russia would be increasing the number of state-funded university positions available for North Korean students, citing strong governmental support for this initiative.

«There is a clear demand to expand the quota, and the government has sanctioned it,» he explained, adding that most North Korean students are inclined towards technical disciplines and possess considerable talent.

He also mentioned that Russia is prepared to offer free university slots to Afghan citizens, although such cooperation hinges on receiving «a clear and transparent decision» from the Taliban that would permit young Afghans to pursue their studies in Russia.