Russia’s influence has surged among young people across Africa in recent years, leaping over former colonial power France while still trailing China, a survey of African youths has found.
Many young Africans now perceive Russia to be an ally, observers said, warning its rivals to take the shift seriously as the continent becomes increasingly critical to both Moscow and Beijing.
According to the African Youth Survey commissioned by the South Africa-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 54 per cent of young Africans aged 18 to 24 viewed Russia as influential, up from 44 per cent two years earlier. The survey interviewed 4,901 respondents across 16 African countries in March.