The article examines changes in African cotton production from 1961 to 2023. While the continent demonstrated an increase in gross output, its share in global production declined during this period. Special attention is paid to the redistribution of production within Africa itself: leadership shifted from the northern region to the western part of the continent. In North Africa, Egypt and Sudan reduced their production, while West Africa saw significant growth in raw cotton cultivation in Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Cote drsquo;Ivoire, and Nigeria. Eastern Africa, notably Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, also contributed to the upward trend. Both the decline and rise in production were driven by a combination of political, environmental, and economic factors. The study concludes that Africa retains high potential for expanding raw cotton production, but realizing this potential requires systemic measures addressing the identified challenges. The author emphasizes the need to transition to sustainable cotton farming practices. These include adopting drip irrigation, improving farmersrsquo; knowledge of modern agricultural techniques through digital platforms, and developing processing infrastructure. The article also explores the potential interest of Russia, facing sanctions, in African cotton.