Crossword Genius

Last one leaving one African country after another to avoid duty (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

malinger

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'to avoid duty' is the definition.

'last one leaving one african country after another' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'last' could be 'linger' (both can mean to remain) and 'linger' is found in the answer.
'one' could be 'a' (a thing is one thing) and 'a' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'm' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for malinger that I've seen before include "Skive by pretending to be ill" , "Loaf about in germinal way" , "Loaf or procrastinate" , "Germinal (anag.)" , "skive off school, maybe" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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