Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resumed the West and Russia’s intense rivalry, echoing the Cold War era. In this conjuncture, many African countries find themselves in a familiar position of non-alignment, not wanting to be forced to take sides in a conflict in the global North. In particular, some African countries have played an important role in global diplomacy, specifically regarding their votes in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The world is rapidly urbanizing: more than two thirds of the global population are expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Most of the urban growth will take place in developing countries. Africa’s urban population alone is expected to increase from 40 percent in 2017 to 56 percent by 2050; in Asia the urban population will increase from 48 percent in 2017 to 64 percent by 20501.