By Abukar Osman - Reporter
France, July 11 2026 – The African Union has called for the removal of barriers limiting the mobility of African students and researchers in France, and urged closer cooperation and implementation of education commitments agreed between Africa and Europe.
The appeal was made by the African Union's Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Ali Yacoub Mahamoud, during the Campus France Summer Assembly, held on July 7-8 in the French city of Reims.
Mahamoud urged partners to translate political commitments under the African Union-European Union partnership, including the Joint Vision for 2030 and the Luanda Declaration, into practical academic initiatives.
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He called for the expansion of jointly awarded degrees, collaborative master's and doctoral programmes, and shared centres of excellence linking African and French higher education institutions.
The AU's Permanent Mission to the European Union also highlighted challenges faced by African students and researchers studying in France, including high tuition fees, visa restrictions and the continuing impact of brain drain on Africa's higher education systems.
At the conclusion of the forum, Mahamoud called on Campus France officials to maintain close dialogue with the African Union to ensure the concerns raised lead to concrete measures and strengthen long-term academic cooperation between Africa and France.