French in Africa: the end of a linguistic monopoly on further study?

← Back to Merisphere Weekly Current Affairs Higher education · Mobility and research French in Africa: the end of a linguistic monopoly on further study? Mansi-Dongi Dokoma 8 November 2026 African researchers expand their publishing networks African students now compare courses across several continents. Their teachers submit projects to laboratories using different languages, while journals and funding networks reach far beyond former colonial university boundaries. The language used to publish, teach or apply for funding conditions access to some scientific resources. French retains an important institutional place in higher education in many African countries. It remains the language of courses, libraries, journals and research organisations. Universities and researchers, however, no longer rely exclusively on francophone channels to obtain scholarships, publish or join international laboratories. The "monopoly" in the title refers to the historical dominance of particular networks, not a legal exclusivity that existed everywhere. Diversifying networks gives African institutions concrete choices: translating their work, maintaining courses accessible in national or regional lang Translation of La langue française en Afrique : la fin d'un monopole linguistique sur la poursuite d'études ?.