country despite and a mark background of the civil war, libyan destruction of a nation. in 45 minutes on d, w. i, she's got who uses the thoughts they will grade a blue . hello there i you, young and young at hot. then you're the right piece. welcome to another edition of the 77 percent. this is the show for africa's majority the youth. my name is linda camara and it's a pleasure having you in

today's shore, we will be quite political. we explore russia's growing influence on the african continent. in could to low, we asked young people how they view russia and it's war on ukraine. and in our homecoming series, we meet our thought make a whole turn to whole country, tara leon, for decades. world powers have been wrangling over partnerships with africa. and since russia attacked ukraine, this fight has become more ideological. many of ukraine's allies expect african countries to decide whether they are for or against russia, in countries like miley and book in a fossil which are both world my military dontez. this has given ground to more anti french and more pro russian voices ah, a pro russian demonstration in regard to them, but cannot fossil. the security situation, the country is tense, islamist rebels,

more control, almost 50 percent of the country. the demonstrators want more support from russia. france is long time military partner and former colonial power has failed. they say that is also mark, i'm sorry, says it is t shirt with put into prince are selling well. when you see this is putting, i tell you all my story, the sales only put in and revolutionary clogs. that's how it is why i am very proud . and i say, congratulations to africans. for russia arrival in africa. russia has come to serve the african lab not to plunder african of rec, whom are has high hopes for put in the russians as opposed to drive out the islam of extremist. and his view is pretty common in west african countries. despite human rights violations. m recent un reports accused the

russian private military coup wagner created by russian, businessman, if kenny, pre goshen, of torture, summary executions and sexual violence, ah, they allegedly also carried out a series of bloody attacks on autism or mines on the border between sedan and the central african republic but for many people, like in tim book to molly, the reports of human rights violations are less concerned. as long as the terrorists are forced back. for example, for abraham idea, we are coin an activist who is fighting to rebuild tim book to after the insurgency . there is a dark book, a greatly diminished all forces. the country has become stronger military li, do we have made acquisitions or 33? and this acquisitions are changing the cause of the war, nuclear or the lag. in toggle,

people are much more critical of russia's involvement on the continent. although the lab results loose will give, we won't find a solution if we seek to replace one protector with another. for mean, i hope of africa us more to need guardianship of both. what we have to look for is partners. certainly. but partners who respect us is the partner and we have to work on the protection of our own interest because it doesn't work well. i testified of russians, chinese, or french. the 1st thing they see is their interest in war and how to gain them most by being in africa on the toner from russia, france, or the u. s. a. for many africans, the question of the right partner is more of a cost benefit calculation. but looking at fossil, the calculation is currently clear. the country needs weapons to defeat the insurgence. so they turn to russia whether or not there are strings attached. let

me start my message to putin. i put in want to ask him to continue helping the africans is up because the african people in general want but he provide us with we points against the terrorist to get us out of the whole. so did a little people like, i'm not thinking about ukraine, but about their own backyard and russia is willing to step in. now, the reason that we and everyone else is talking about russia, is of course rushes war on ukraine. in february 2022, russia and forces invaded ukraine in the foster of the war. over 7000000 people fled the country. families were separated with a men staying to fight. and well the death count is in that tens of thousands. must braves make it difficult to know how many lives while last. and while this war may be far away for many africans, it's had

a huge impact on the continent. fuel prices, short top wheat and other foods were stuck in ukraine. and then there were the individual feats, such as both of young african students who had gone to ukraine to study, will meet one of these students and hear how he was able to escape the war. who's do anything you could just live there and smoke and, and if you could hear with my phones and gunshots from intervals, you seen soldiers stop, the trains on the community search it was really, really easy to find. hi, my name is collins. i'm 21 and i'm from nigeria. pointed leaving group in vegas hill high school and i moved to, i don't in one area i live. i mean that's like really hard schools to get in

the university of buttons to study law. actually. we're like, they're kind of like not enough for me. so i had to like try and look for something outside the country. i was when i got my way to get the ukraine. collins were studying international law at harkey national university of ukraine in them by 2021 my. my hope was going for green to restart. not to continue anything just to restart a fresh new life for me. oh, oh, it's one morning. and then my roommate talk to me and just like, did you hear like hear what then he like those bombing. i was like stop joking because the night before will joking about he was the last one games. don't funny until it was not funny. we'll like trying to come now about it until we had 71 and

then with a week nobody could see like, it was a joke anymore. and then it was sort of panicking big time. i called my guardian of some sort. and it was like, nothing is gonna happen is just this, just some blasts. go out, get some food stuck of your feet and stain doors. and then i went out and i saw everybody on the street punting. everybody was literally trying to like, got all the stores to buckled for the could. people were like trying to withdraw money to will back in your bags, putting them inside. it was like driving off high cave was heavily hit when the war began. collins school was also bump with a group of other foreign students, collins decided to leave ukraine. they had to force their way onto the train after authority stopped them. ah,

collins arrived in berlin a month later with just a few belongings. he has been staying with volunteer host until he finds a permanent place. i i mean i lost everything right, but i lay things green. i didn't stay that long, but i had kind of her life like aspiring to build i had a life. i was already building on, and then the war comes and, and everything is broken down. i left the interior right to restart. and then it's

kind of not fair when you restart turned to an end. and then you have to mean restart again from the beginning and the same when you start. and again, you're starting actually like with nothing like basically nothing against a journey with physically, nothing backpack, shirt trousers, shoes. collins hopes to get into a university in germany. but for now, he is learning german and working at a retail store. i used to really loud found re so didn't sound the shoot me before i started having like therapy sessions, i used to like have bad insomnia. and when i did sleep, i had a crazy night about from that i think i'm getting been around now,

collins is still in germany. hill trying to get his paperwork together to continue his studies. if you want to find out more about him and other african students who fled ukraine, you can head over to the youtube channel in for migrants, which is the collaboration between d. w and other media houses. from educational teams to military aid and partnerships. russia's influence in africa is undeniable. our street debate takes us to cut a new in beneath where my colleagues command raji, host a debate on what the young people think about russia, relationship with africa. the news your votes. welcome to our show, this 77 percent st. debate to amend the summit this week. we caught a new on laming square,

a place that commemorates the friendship between the soviet union and beneath it been an old re. today we're going to discuss a very common topic we've young beneath binion why russia influences in africa on a week case. good is what do young africans think about it as well? and i'll start with a young, political activist, chris, tell me, how do you perceive russia influence on in africa? jessica love with the so more on them than 3 in terms of influence. we see russia has a power that comes with a chair of hopes and fears. law a, the kind they're kind the passcode years because we know that when russia arrived in the country, it does not care about the way internal politics are conducted. lakila the new by i'd the pinion seal f, as not happily dick and denser men. i mean, young africans who live in countries that aren't democratic art, but haven't experienced democracy yet. ah, nevertheless, i like it is striving for that experience in offenders and knowing that this is not

one of russia's focal areas is alarming up, but they can't well, super well. thank you very much for your opinion. i see someone winking in the back over there. john address that you are linguistics expert when we talk about russian influence in africa today on up. what does that mean to you was evoke, you seen some apparently we are here are the lennon square, as you said earlier, the more, and this is a symbol of the fact that relations between russia and africa are in to new jersey . they go back to the independence era. so we as africans, open our doors to anyone who comes in and we can't prove to ourselves that we actually have the power of it to negotiate with our partners. we truly say back to near goodwill was obviously, you've lived in russia, you speak russian, you are a young african guess. what do you think of all that has been said about the russian influence in africa. life, yours always on russia's influence in africa is indeed very present and it's rooted in history or during the cold war, russia establish

a very strong diplomatic ties with african countries. so the 1st african political cutters were trained in soviet union milk out at least 25000 african cutters. what trained there and many more train directly in africa, etc, said. so it's logical that this generation of leaders are ideologically closer to marxism him and leninism, which had a major influence in africa, out of the timely book on african massey book. thank you very much. the said, we're now going to hear your opinion, just sweat as you are young, political activist. how do you view russian influenza in africa? thick. what will be now? will i, boy, i've been in collaborated with russia for 18 years, but economically, not much has changed in the country and is 18 years of relations with russia therapy. i'm that does. so they will see that russia is reposition in itself, or you will see what is happening in ukraine, so that russia is no better than the other countries that we are fighting at. do as you good, as a big commercial is attacking the country. how is he a young country got of its own interest?

he today it is the queen and people who us off rap. oh, i go there didn't delay or you would you say you publicly nicky, us off oswald, we on today. we are no longer indifferent to what is happening in ukraine who wants to comment on the origins of this war daily see on russia's aggression against ukraine. an independent and sovereign nation, we see how do you integrate this war? you can take up an delora gene, the said get out. so more in my view passed on in the war between ukraine, young to god and russia. replenish, is a confrontation between 2 ideological blocks or do block idiology. there is the european ideological block blocking the logic and the russian ideological blog. lucky dorothy guy to be able to commend on this. i wonder we need to understand the spec run for it as soon as the law shows some point. okay, so for you, like the war is due to an ideological problem, double cell with it. i have the impression that you do not agree with this. where

does the war in ukraine come from on? you can a dead do if it's more continental, if we analyze president put in stance to day, we can see a sudden nostalgia for the greatness of the former soviet union. today we see that russia is defending its fear of influence areas that were previously part of the soviet union at all cause that school is this aubrey civility kid there or to was unfortunately, a russia is doing this partly by force to keep these countries under its authority, or at least trying to maintain on neutral status quo, anita does that you go neutral, monsieur monsieur, sir? yes sir. do you have something to say that i have the impression that you do not agree with the opinions we've had so far as goes? do you have anything to say against what is being said? and i think we have seen that russia started attacking ukraine out of the blue. say that go now. all right, not go. all right, let go. what i can do. i got one of you did what that can you can, man, i says to the attack she crane. guess wanting will show it to new cream is an

independent country. amid negotiations, the alignment we have observed for some time to rise up for russia, president at the head of ukraine. lab report were anti but then i tested, and dylan's key came into power with the yet and anti russia policy there. and clearly demonstrated that he wanted to move it to was he current total, independent from russia and nora lucia due to that they have the right to choose their international alliance as well. i believe. i think it's the same fight. we are fighting in africa. omar o, that it's the fight for the african people to choose with whom they want to collaborate. they go globally, aneice oral d keller, aneice. what is the impact of these crises? the lack of rushes, war of aggression against ukraine law on the lives of young africans. so law, the visions, africa, and by they sell in i b, m, they get the impact can clearly be felt. gas is expensive, oil is expensive. many very products and more expensive because these products were

exported from these countries from these 2 states. and sheila said russia produces gas and oil cereals, especially wheat. ye crane also produces a lot of cereals. and today this will has an impact on all of us and especially as young people, we really feel it. galen will impact those in with them on june. when i be a quincy taco alright. oh, okay. so in your opinion, what steps should african countries take to ensure that future crises do not negatively impact, african economies liquid me african. the african was ordered, africa to day, needs to find its own way editing. oh, it should, it should not be a problem because we have alternative school, anaplastic. roosevelt is that they're not you. what our one yet is because we can make money of bread agreement. we have fun, jo, meledonis, sorghum and amc american. my scope of up. but how can we insure an increased availability of the mon, your, could you my new military or sa gum in our market?

marcia does commerce can, how can we make this work? one is going to pull out japan. i think in this area there is simply lack of political will because of the know how is there the mouse. all right, so a lack of political will. thank you. so let's listen to a crystal solutions to conclude crystal, what is your solution, alicia? for my yet, but the so i believe there is no miracle solution i. we must work to motivate every been a nice and african citizen to get more productively involved on a daily basis. our little said this, johan report the div shaqia, he's baskets the shotgun as because if everyone works on developing their personal skills and gets involved in their community, we would have the hoped for solution of this upcoming day. and so we are literally c o s very volunteers who will a desire for sovereignty to formalism. for me, these are feigning africans on the continent so that they can respond to problems locally novel on more math see that?

well, thank you for watching this episode of the 77 percent. that poor san woodrow see. no, don't forget to comment, share and like, well, thank you so much. mousie roku. ah, thank you, kemal and everyone in daneen who took part in the debate. one take away from the debate is that we, as young africans need to push our governments to do better at negotiating with our international partners for that young off. because like you and me have a better future. if you have something to say about this topic, leave us a comment on social media. and if you happen to speak french, you should definitely subscribe to our 77 percent french youtube channel. you can find many of the videos there and a longer fashion of this street debate. now, we still have one more report for you this week. we will stay in west africa,

but head to sierra leone, where we meet filmmaker benny k. hamilton. she had to leave her alone as a child, but has now returned to build a new life in her home country. the peace that holding africa back is the diaspora. and we that were born in africa that left a missing part of what's wrong with your countries you, it's basically a gaping hole where you're from and you, it's never going to be healed unless you make an effort to reunite politically, economically, socially with your country. my name is identical. hamilton, most people commonly care. i'm a thoroughly own american. i am marie since returning back to sierra leone. i am a story teller. i my mode of story telling that i am enjoying most right now is phil making. i'm a filmmaker, i'm the founder of 3rd culture kid productions. we are

a production company that focuses on content, food, and events. from a global perspective, i began to understand the power of storytelling. really, when i was 25 and 7, i was living in the gambia as a refugee. and one of the things i would always here on the news was about the war in kosovo. i felt more pathetic to what they were, what they were going through. despite the fact that i was going through a similar experience, and that was when i understand and understood that if you were to control the narrative, if you are the one that gets to tell the story, and then you have a powerful place because you can control how people feel about you i'm left solely on when i was 5 as a refugee, i moved to the gambia, where i lived for 2 years before we settling at the age of 7 in the united states. i remember him moments. i remember when the war happened,

i remember like getting ready to leave, and we actually left my boat in sierra leone. and it was actually a interesting story because that what was supposed to be a 30 our boat ride us leaving from sierra leone to the gambia. became a 6 day ordeal at sea because we were lost at sea for 6 days and never thought the bull ride would end in when we finally landed in gambia. there was like the 1st time i knew that everything in my life was gonna change. so when i 1st moved to the states, it was tough because i, whenever they heard that you were several union, this was during the time of the civil war and civil union. so everything was blood diamond. oh child soldiers, you are you a child soldier and they say it's candidly and it almost becomes a moniker that you wear on your neck. and so that was the 1st kind of time i had to grapple with my identity. i think my story of home coming started when i was 21

years old, almost 22. and it was the 1st time i returned back to sierra leone. then i'd just wanted to come back a lot more. i would come every other year or so. and it wasn't until 2020 that i made a conscious decision to come back to sir william. there were a number of things that inspired me to come back. i went to this event called africa chophouse, the american ambassador for the a u. r. a conner chic coy. she gave a talk on words why the missing piece of africa? the piece that's holding africa back is the diaspora. and we that were born in africa that left and she just gave a very moving speech. she said, you africans that are always saying, this is wrong with africa. do not know that the missing part of what's wrong with your country is you. it's basically

a gaping hole where you're from and you. it's never going to be healed unless you make an effort to reunite with your country. at that point, i had already started my production company in new york. i had registered it and i'd been doing little things. and then i said, you know what? i'm going to, i'm going to figure out how to just move back. i don't know what's gonna happen. i don't know if it's gonna work out, but i'm just gonna try. i didn't want sierra leone to only be her, be known as the abolla, please. the blood diamond plays the war, plays the child. so would you please? i just, i wanted to just tell a different kind of story about sierra leone. thank you so much. had any k for sharing your story. today's show is a great reminder that young africans are aware of global affairs and how they affect them. we also had, but they have ideas over how to shape their future. we've come to the end of this

edition of the 77 percent and i hope you enjoyed it as much as they did. we always love hearing from you, so connect to reverse across all our platforms. i leave you with a song by bella. moore's douglas. i wanted to camara, thanks for watching bye. for now a ah, ah, ah ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, libya is tearing up. the fighting has lasted 10 long years. it's a war pitting east against west, driven by outside interests, fought with sophisticated weapons entering the country despite an embargo.

background of a civil war. libya destruction of a nation in 15 minutes on d. w. one, making the headlines and what's behind van d. w. news africa, the show, the issues in the continent. life is slowly getting back to normal. yeah. well, in the streets, to give you enough reports on the inside of our correspond that was on the ground reporting from across the continent and all the trends doesn't matter to you in 90 minutes. on d. w. o. a getting ahead. using tech,

as our documentary series and founders valley colleagues, africa to meet the founders, empowering their continent through digital innovation. all the transformer work in health and living conditions in their country, and inspiring the world with their ideas. valley africa started february 13 on d, w. here are you that are still wouldn't, don't collection, don't, can you mouth, right? you will send this to the with the th and the gross must the of a superpower. the collapse of the soviet union rushes more in ukraine. one years vision, can we take a look back and into the future in the new 1000000?

slowly in february on d, w. ah, ah, this is d, w use live from berlin. the pentagon says it's detected a 2nd suspected chinese surveillance balloon overlapped america. the 1st one, floating above the u. s. heart land ignited a diplomatic storm that's kept the secretary of state from visiting china plus more u. s. military aid for ukraine. the latest package.