Three emerging leaders from Africa highlighted the importance of deeper ties between the Global South and Russia at the Russian-African Forum for Young Specialists in International Relations, emphasizing cooperation in development, security, and education.
They came to Moscow as part of the Russian presidential program "New Generation," which is being implemented by the humanitarian agency Rossotrudnichestvo.
Speaking to Sputnik Africa, Nyambe Nalishebo, a youth development activist from Zambia and Director General at the World Youth and Leadership Foundation, stressed the importance of youth involvement in strengthening Zambia-Russia relations.
According to Nalishebo, a key step in achieving this is through policies that promote greater mobility between the two nations, particularly through visa-free travel for youth exchange programs and business opportunities.
"We have more than 170 young people from Zambia that come to study in Russia. So we also are looking forward to having young people from Russia going back to study in Zambia just to develop an excellent program that will assist us to build the future," Nalishebo said.
He further emphasized Russia’s potential to aid African development through technology, entrepreneurship, and educational exchange, advocating for collaboration in these areas to "build the future of we ourselves as young people."
Abubakar Abdi, an international relations and security expert from Somalia, highlighted how African countries are increasingly asserting their influence on the world stage and underscored the strategic importance of alliances such as BRICS for African nations.
"The Global South has been one of the most important parts when it comes to international relations. They have been advocating for peace development in the world," Abdi remarked, adding that BRICS plays a vital role in supporting African security initiatives.
He called for African countries to be given more space in such forums to voice their interests and perspectives on security matters.
Abdi’s participation in the event, he explained, was driven by his belief in the importance of young Africans representing their countries on the international stage.
"It is our role, young Africans, to come here, to represent our countries, to explain the importance of things that we have there," he said.
Speaking about her participation in the forum, Melissa Sarah Hamalambo, a Zambian youth development practitioner and democracy advocate, expressed her excitement about learning firsthand about Russia’s culture, values, and policies related to youth engagement.
For her, the forum provided a unique opportunity to explore Russia's approach to youth involvement in international affairs and build connections between young professionals from both continents.
"It’s very important that we also take the opportunity that is given to us to explore a little further for ourselves, to learn and understand, to network, to interact," Hamalambo said.
She emphasized that no matter where people are from, building synergies and shared understanding is crucial for fostering meaningful international collaboration.