Photo Credit:Jerome Delay/AP Photo/picture alliance
Russia is increasingly ramping up its influence in African nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger through a mix of cultural, media, and military activities. This outreach is primarily driven by the ‘African Initiative’, a media organization founded in September 2023 after the collapse of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization. These efforts include football matches, graffiti festivals featuring portraits of President Vladimir Putin, and media initiatives designed to spread pro-Kremlin narratives.
Through guided tours and media exposure, Russia presents itself as an alternative to the West, particularly former colonial powers like France, which have been criticized for their failed military interventions in the region. Russia’s propaganda machine works through platforms like Telegram, where African Initiative channels push disinformation targeting the U.S. and promoting Russia’s military activities. These narratives falsely claim, for example, that the U.S. is using African countries as testing grounds for biological weapons.
One of Russia’s key strategies has been inviting African journalists and influencers to participate in “war tours” of Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, showing them only the Kremlin’s perspective. This tactic has effectively garnered local support, with some journalists promoting Russia’s territorial claims as legitimate. Local community outreach in the Sahel region further reinforces Russia’s image through “friendship lessons” in schools and community sports events.
By aligning itself with African military governments that have distanced themselves from the West, Russia fills a void left by traditional Western powers, particularly in the wake of recent coups. This growing influence, supported by Russian military and economic engagements, marks a significant geopolitical shift on the continent.
