From Soviet classrooms to presidential palaces: How the USSR educated African leaders

The legacy of Soviet education continues to shape the continent’s professional and political landscape

For decades, education has been a powerful bridge between Russia and Africa, shaping generations of professionals and leaders. The Soviet Union’s investment in international knowledge exchange laid the foundation for enduring partnerships, and today, Russia continues to attract African students in growing numbers.

More than just a destination for higher learning, Russia offers affordability, academic excellence, and a strong network of alumni who serve as cultural and professional ambassadors. Interestingly, personal recommendations – driven by nostalgia, shared experiences, and a deep emotional connection – play a crucial role in influencing new applicants, proving that education is not just about knowledge but also about lasting relationships.

“You should start with getting to know the Soviet Union”

For many African students, studying in Russia isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a legacy passed down through generations. Older classmates and alumni, who once walked the same path, eagerly recommend their universities, fostering tight-knit diasporas within Russian institutions. They form an important “capital” for Russia, as they become carriers of the Russian cultural and educational brand and often participate actively in educational and scientific exchanges.

Dr. Issa Togo from Mali, now an associate professor at the SPbPU Institute of Civil Engineering, St. Petersburg, who once had countless options but chose the USSR, recalls: “I knew next to nothing about the USSR. I just had a general idea of socialism and capitalism. If I wished, I could continue my education in France, Italy, or Germany. But my choice was partly influenced by my brother’s advice: ‘You will always have a chance to go to these countries. You should start with getting to know the Soviet Union.’”

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His younger compatriot, Brahima Togola, who has been connected with the Russian language and Russia since his school days and is now a PhD student at the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), explains his choice by the fact that he was surrounded by “many friends’ relatives who, at the time, were civil servants in the country and had studied in the Soviet Union.” They shared their memories and explained “Russian patriotism and culture,” describing the climate, the Moscow metro, and Red Square.

Today, around 35,000 African students are studying in Russia, most of whom are enrolled through quotas that cover not only tuition fees but also dormitory accommodation and provide a monthly stipend. In the 2025/26 academic year, Russia will allocate 4,816 state-funded places for students from Africa, slightly more than the 4,746 places in 2024/25. Last year, 14,000 applicants competed for these spots, with 2.7 applicants per place. In 2025, the largest number of places will go to applicants from Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Chad, Mali, Congo, Nigeria, Zambia, Benin, Guinea, and Zimbabwe.

According to Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian agency responsible for international cooperation, the most popular fields of study are medicine, economics, IT, international relations, oil and gas, and construction. African students are admitted to leading Russian universities, with the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) traditionally leading the list, followed by St. Petersburg State University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and others.

How the USSR shaped Africa’s professional elite

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From 1960 to 1992, the USSR trained over 40,000 qualified professionals for Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of students, 87%, received higher education, studying at universities and institutes across various Soviet republics. The largest number of African graduates came from institutions in the Russian SFSR and the Ukrainian SSR.

In Soviet education, Africans valued applied specialties that would make them sought-after professionals in their home countries. Engineering and technical professions were the most popular, followed by agriculture, veterinary medicine, and medicine. The latter, in particular, was the most desirable field for postgraduate students.

Statistics from the final years of the USSR, from 1980 to 1991, show which African countries sent the most students to the USSR, including Ethiopia, Congo-Brazzaville, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mali, and Ghana.

Soviet education gave graduates who returned to their home countries a competitive edge, allowing them to compete even with graduates from universities in former colonial powers, primarily France and the United Kingdom. Another popular destination was the United States.

Although Soviet graduates were not inferior in qualifications and had also learned a new language, not all of them achieved immediate fame or high positions in their home countries, especially in the years following the collapse of the USSR. “After the collapse of the Soviet Union, all its graduates in Mali were marginalized, and most of them were unemployed, except for a few lucky ones,” Malian PhD student Brahima Togola from RSUH told RT.

“Young people want to come to Russia to study”

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Over time, the situation gradually normalized, and new inspiring examples emerged among high-ranking officials, academics, and opinion leaders. Even today, despite the tense geopolitical situation, students from across the continent continue to show active interest in studying in Russia.

“Young people in South Africa want to come to Russia to study. It is not easy because of the language and also because of the geopolitics. These things do not stop them from wanting to know more about Russia,” says Dr. Mava Mbulawa, a medical graduate of RUDN and president of the South African Forum for Russian Alumni ‘Shyire Krug’.

Attractive conditions can be found in countries where Russian companies are active. Previously, Kasse Abdou Fata, a PhD student from the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, told RT: “As more and more representatives of Russian businesses came to Africa and relations between Russia and Senegal developed, young people began actively learning Russian... Russian-speaking candidates have an advantage when applying for work in a Russian company.”

However, it is not only career prospects but also the successful examples of compatriots that particularly motivate African youth. Their numbers are large and spread across the continent. Even in countries where the level of cooperation with Russia remains relatively low, there are examples of respected and successful individuals who studied in the USSR.

Ministers, presidents, and more

Doors opened more easily for highly qualified graduates who had received education abroad, which further influenced their career trajectories. In Africa, there are three current heads of state who studied in the USSR: Angolan President Joao Lourenco, recently re-elected Ghanaian President John Mahama, and Namibian political veteran Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who recently won the presidential election.

The Russian language can compete with former colonial languages, which have become official or lingua franca in most African countries. Although most high-ranking officials speak English (63%) and French (50%), Russian is also among the most widely spoken languages, according to a study by the Higher School of Economics. It is spoken by 19 political leaders, or 2.6%. Among non-native languages for decision-makers, Russian ranks first, ahead of German, Spanish, Chinese, and others.

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Elena Apasova, vice rector for strategic communications at RUDN, told the newspaper Izvestia that graduates of the university hold the following government positions in their home countries: prime minister, minister of health, minister of natural resources and tourism, and minister of emergency situations.

Some graduates changed their professions and chose civil service. For example, this was the fate of Fatima Abdel Mahmoud. She was one of the first women to hold political office in Sudan. In the 1960s, she studied pediatrics at RUDN in Moscow but chose a political career. By 1973, she was appointed deputy minister of youth, sports, and social affairs. Newspapers at the time wrote that Sudanese women were “seeking a new path” and turning a page in the history of a “highly conservative society in Sudan, where 90% of women are officially listed as illiterate.” She remained politically active throughout her life and ran for president twice.

This is not an isolated example; many other African leaders also studied in the USSR. The list includes former Central African Republic President Michel Djotodia, former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga, and current Congo-Brazzaville Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso, among others.

“It is important to know that most of Mali’s top officials were trained in the USSR, both in military and civilian fields, including several staff members of the Malian Embassy in Moscow and the former prime minister,” notes Souleymane Kante, a PhD student from Mali majoring in international relations at RUDN. Many university rectors and professors in Mali also received their qualifications in the USSR.

The legacy of Soviet education in Africa continues to shape the continent’s professional and political landscape. Over the decades, thousands of African students have pursued higher education in the USSR and later in Russia, returning home with valuable knowledge, professional skills, and a deep understanding of Russian culture. Many have risen to influential roles in government, academia, and business, further solidifying the enduring bond between Russia and Africa.

Despite changing global dynamics, Russia’s educational allure remains as strong as ever. With its mix of affordability, high-quality education, and a legacy of successful alumni, the country continues to draw young Africans seeking opportunity abroad. Russia’s investment in education serves as a strategic tool of diplomacy, ensuring that its presence in Africa extends far beyond trade.