Repositioning Ukraine in Africa: Foreign policy and the institutionalization of African Studies after 2022

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has transformed Ukraine’s foreign policy priorities, elevating Africa as a strategic region for diplomatic engagement. This article argues that Ukraine’s intensified Africa policy has been accompanied by the emergence of African Studies as a distinct academic field. Drawing on foreign policy documents, institutional developments and qualitative analysis, the paper demonstrates how wartime diplomacy has generated demand for area expertise, fostering new research programmes and academic initiatives. We interpret this development as a process of epistemic repositioning in which knowledge production supports diplomatic autonomy, strengthens Ukraine’s engagement with the Global South and contributes to broader debates on decolonization and epistemic sovereignty.