In depth

Game Changers

They are courageous and determined. They are fighting for a more modern, more just, and more innovative Africa, for a prouder Africa. Here are some portraits of these ‘Game changers’, pioneers who are elevating the continent.

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Changing the game

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Game changers: Security, justice, climate… These Africans are transforming the continent

In the early 2010s the World Bank and the African Development Bank launched the slogan 'The Africa that wins'. The concept has quickly shown its limits. A narrow perspective, which implies that another part of Africa can be called 'loser', and groups together 54 countries and as many human, historical and social differences into a single value judgment.

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Trailblazers

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Game changers: Tinto, Muyembe, Wonkam…Pioneers of African health

Antimalarials, treatments against Ebola, studies of African genomes... These relentless and visionary scientists succeeded when no one dared to believe.

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just rule

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Game changers: Zondo, Touré, Merzoug… The incorruptible seekers of justice

They are on the frontline of the fight against corruption, fighting to guarantee the independence of justice in an often difficult context. Portraits of independence from the continent: South African Justice Raymond Zondo, Prosecutor Idrissa Hamidou Touré of Mali, and Algerian magistrate Saadeddin Merzoug.

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Shining on the world stage

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Game changers – Felwine Sarr, Touria El Glaoui, Acha Leke… Idea shaker-uppers

Publishing, contemporary art, education... From Senegal to Cameroon via Morocco, portraits of the Africans helping the continent’s artistic and intellectual achievements shine on the world stage.

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Shaking Things Up

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Game changers: Ibrahim Hachane and Kalista Sy, in the name of women

One is a lawyer in Morocco, the other a scriptwriter in Senegal. Both have, in their respective fields, helped shake up the conservatism surrounding women’s rights.

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peacekeeping principles

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Game changers: Innocent Kabandana and Pascal Muhizi, Rwandan officers who overcome jihadists

“African armies: why are they so bad?” A few years ago, after noting increasing conflicts and the inability of the armed forces to rectify them, we dared to ask this deliberately provocative question, causing something of a scandal on the continent. But asking a question does not prevent us from qualifying the answer, nor even from recognising encouraging victories when they do occur.

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cutting edge

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Game Changers Ouédraogo, Coulibaly, Koné: One motto…innovation!

From Burkina Faso to Côte d'Ivoire, whether it's electricity, agriculture or digital technology, these leaders are doing everything they can to shake up the status quo.

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'Ecology Without Borders'

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Game changers: Vanessa Nakate, a voice for the climate

From Ugandan schools to the podium of COP26, this young activist warns us about the effects of climate change in Africa, and she does not hesitate to hold world leaders to account.

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