Canada is one of the top three countries attracting the most foreign students. Many come from India and China, which is normal.
As regards study permit applications from Africa, I've previously heard IRCC respond that the discrepancy isn't that great between anglophones and francophones. I don't think that answers the question about discrimination.
Furthermore, many refusals are explained away by saying that applicants didn't demonstrate that they would leave the country after completing their studies. That's absurd given that the federal government's clear policy for many years now has been to try to retain foreign students. It makes no sense.
Based on what I've read about rates of immigration to English and French Canada, African immigration is definitely mostly francophone, but Nigerians have also had problems. That seems to be related to the introduction of the new electronic processing system.
I still think the federal government has some work to do to explain the situation.