Russia is increasingly extending its influence across Africa through a blend of cultural events and media outreach. In Burkina Faso, teenage footballers stand at attention as the Russian national anthem plays before a match, while artists paint murals of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a graffiti festival. These activities are part of a broader strategy by Russia to strengthen its presence in Africa, particularly in nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have recently distanced themselves from Western allies in favor of closer ties with Moscow.
This growing influence is orchestrated by African Initiative, a new Russian media organization established in September 2023, just a month after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. African Initiative has inherited much of the infrastructure previously set up by the now-disbanded Wagner Group and is believed to have connections with Russian security services. The organization describes itself as an “information bridge between Russia and Africa,” aiming to attract African journalists, influencers, and students while disseminating pro-Russian narratives and misinformation.
African Initiative’s operations extend beyond media, as it actively engages in community outreach in the Sahel region. In Burkina Faso, the organization sponsors football tournaments, martial arts competitions, and educational programs, all aimed at promoting Russia’s image. Additionally, they have organized press tours for African journalists to Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, where the journalists are exposed to and later report on narratives that align with Russian state propaganda.
African Initiative’s media efforts include a news website and several Telegram channels, some of which were repurposed from those previously run by Wagner-linked groups. The content often targets the United States with unfounded claims, including accusations that the US is using Africa as a testing ground for bio-weapons. These narratives are part of a broader campaign to shift African nations’ allegiances away from the West and towards Russia.
The organization’s outreach also includes educational sessions where students in Burkina Faso learn about Russian culture and relations between their governments. The involvement of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in African Initiative’s operations further underscores the strategic importance Russia places on this initiative.