How Russia is trying to influence Africa

In Burkina Faso, a football match starts with the Russian national anthem, and a graffiti festival features an image of President Vladimir Putin painted alongside Burkina Faso’s revolutionary icon Thomas Sankara. These are part of Russia's growing efforts to spread influence across Africa. At the center of these efforts is African Initiative, a Russian media organization launched in September 2023 after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. African Initiative has close ties to Russian security services and serves as the media wing of a broader strategy to gain influence in Africa. Russia’s outreach is particularly focused on three West African nations: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These countries have experienced recent military coups and have turned away from former Western allies like France, choosing to align with Russia. Discontent with failed anti-jihadist interventions and colonial legacies has paved the way for Russia to step in and present itself as a viable partner. Evidence gathered by the BBC shows that Russia is using a combination of media campaigns, cultural events, and disinformation to sway African public opinion. The African Initiative claims to be an "information bridge" between Africa and Russia, but experts argue it is a vehicle for spreading Kremlin propaganda. It has inherited much of the structure that belonged to the dismantled Wagner mercenary group and has expanded its operations, especially in the Sahel region. The initiative runs multiple news and social media channels in languages like English, French, Russian, and Arabic, including five Telegram channels that promote pro-Russian narratives and misinformation about the United States.

One prominent example of disinformation propagated by African Initiative includes claims, without evidence, that the U.S. is using Africa as a testing ground for bio-weapons. Stories allege that secret U.S. bio-labs are conducting experiments under the guise of humanitarian work. Such narratives, while false, build on long-running Kremlin disinformation campaigns that accuse the U.S. of operating covert bio-labs, a claim Russia has used in various geopolitical contexts, including Ukraine. African Initiative's efforts extend beyond media influence. In June, it organized a "press tour" for African journalists to visit Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Ghanaian blogger Raymond Agbadi, who participated in the trip, said that Africa had little reliable information about the war, and this tour was meant to fill that gap. Journalists visited cities like Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia, both under Russian control. Traveling with the Russian military, the journalists were exposed to Russia’s version of events and reported on the war from a pro-Russian perspective. Notably, Jackson Hinkle, an American social media influencer who supports Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also part of the tour. These trips aim to give African journalists an "authentic" view of the war, but in reality, they serve to propagate Russia’s narrative about its actions in Ukraine. Russia’s push for influence doesn’t stop with media tours. On the ground in countries like Burkina Faso, African Initiative hosts community outreach events, offering "friendship lessons" where children are taught about Russian culture, Soviet martial arts competitions, first aid workshops, and even screenings of pro-Russian films. These events are intended to build goodwill towards Russia and distance West African nations from Western countries. One notable example of this is the football competition where local teenage footballers played matches to the tune of the Russian national anthem. Meanwhile, graffiti artists in Burkina Faso painted images of Putin on city walls. The Initiative also distributes groceries and sponsors public screenings of films, such as The Tourist, a Wagner-backed documentary showcasing Russian military efforts in the Central African Republic.

According to researchers, African Initiative’s operations appear to be supported by the FSB, Russia's security agency. The organization is led by Artyom Kureyev, who is linked to the FSB and has ties to Russian think tanks that support Putin’s administration. Former Wagner press officer Anna Zamaraeva serves as its deputy editor-in-chief. Additionally, Viktor Lukovenko, a former Russian nationalist with a criminal record and connections to Wagner, previously led the Burkina Faso branch of African Initiative. Lukovenko’s departure doesn’t seem to have slowed the organization’s outreach. Despite its alleged focus on cultural exchange, African Initiative has been instrumental in spreading pro-Kremlin views across Africa. For example, Ghanaian journalist Ivy Setordjie wrote an article about the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region, describing it as "located in the south of European Russia"—mirroring the Kremlin’s claim that it has legally annexed the region, even though international law considers it part of Ukraine. In addition to these media initiatives, African Initiative has started promoting educational opportunities in Russia. In August 2024, around 100 students from Burkina Faso attended a seminar discussing training programs in Russia. African Initiative continues to grow its presence in the Sahel, amplifying Russia’s image as an ally while fostering anti-American and anti-French sentiment. The organization's website claims that its goal is to “spread knowledge about Africa in Russia” and to give Africans a voice. However, critics argue that African Initiative serves a far more insidious role: manipulating public opinion to strengthen Russia’s geopolitical presence on the African continent. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages