The African initiative presents itself as a press company primarily based in Moscow that covers occasions all through the continent, with the goal of “mutually increasing the data of the Russians and Africans on one another”.
But in actuality, it has been categorized because the “principal automobile” for Russia’s disinformation actions all through Africa, in line with a brand new Vignium report, the French company that screens overseas digital interference.
Some of the individuals who handle the African initiative have affiliations with the Russian intelligence companies, whereas others have been recognized as former members of the Wagner paramilitary group.
The African initiative was launched in September 2023, only a month after Yevgeny Prigozhin – one of many founders of Wagner and his chief – died in a aircraft crash.
Prigozhin had performed an instrumental function in selling Russian pursuits on the African continent. After his dying, Moscow rushed to exchange the operations managed by Wagner all through the African continent.
The outlet publishes its content material on numerous web sites in numerous languages, additionally on Telegram – the place it boasts 70,000 subscribers on its channels, in addition to on numerous Facebook and Tiktok accounts.
In addition to publishing articles and digital content material, the outlet makes use of native fronts and delicate energy initiatives reminiscent of journalism faculties and press journeys to include itself inside native communities.
For instance, in June the outlet organized a convention that aimed to dismantle the “myths, damaging narratives” on Russia and as a substitute of constructing alternatives to “create an goal picture of Russia within the African continent”.
The African initiative has additionally prompted to develop its actions within the former French colonies of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which represent the alliance of the States of Sahel – a union that Russia was the primary nation to acknowledge.
West Africa nations beneath the management of juntas have moved away from France and different former Western allies – criticizing failed interventions in opposition to Islamist extremists and their colonial bequests – and as a substitute they flip to Russia.
After the dying of Prigozhin, Moscow launched a brand new paramilitary group, “Africa Corps”, which is believed to be managed and thoroughly monitored by the Ministry of Defense of Russia, as a part of the Kremlin plan to tighten its grip on present operations all through Africa.
