Russia in Africa: Building influence with war ‘tours’ and graffiti

The African Initiative spreads misleading claims online and promotes Russian culture on the ground.

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Welcome to Burkina Faso, one of the African nations where Russia is boosting its operations to gain influence.

Evidence found by the BBC shows that Russia is using media and cultural initiatives to attract African journalists, influencers, and students while spreading misleading information.

These events are being promoted by African Initiative, a newly founded Russian media organisation which defines itself as an “information bridge between Russia and Africa”. It inherited structures previously set up by the dismantled Wagner mercenary group and is believed by experts to have links with the Russian security services.

Registered in September 2023, a month after Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash, African Initiative has welcomed former employees from his disbanded enterprises.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3lky7z7eo

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