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Russia’s Growing Influence in Africa: Military Operations and Propaganda Reshape Geopolitical Landscape
Russia has made significant inroads across Africa, deploying military operations and sophisticated propaganda networks that are changing the continent’s political landscape and challenging European influence. Though limited in scope, Russian operations have had outsized impacts, particularly in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Mali.
Moscow’s strategy combines military deployments with powerful propaganda machines that tap into existing antipathy toward Europe, especially France. This approach has successfully pushed several African governments closer to Russia’s foreign policy objectives, while leaving European nations struggling to maintain their historical influence.
Following the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023, the Kremlin reorganized its African operations into two distinct entities: the Africa Corps, a military wing, and the Africa Initiative, which handles information warfare. Both now report directly to Russian state structures, gaining formal backing and deeper integration into Russian foreign policy.
The Africa Corps, clearly echoing the Nazi force of the same name, has deployed roughly 10,000 personnel across the continent, with ambitions to expand to as many as 40,000 troops. It offers recruits payments of up to 2.1 million rubles (approximately €24,000) plus land plots – more than twice Russia’s average annual salary – making recruitment relatively easy despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Africa Initiative, launched in late 2023 and run by Russian intelligence officer Artem Kureyev, operates as a covert information manipulation operation disguised as a news agency. It publishes content in multiple languages, including English, French, Arabic, Russian, and local African languages like Hausa and Swahili.
In Libya, Russian forces have secured critical infrastructure, energy sites and airbases since 2020. This presence enables Russia to project power across the Mediterranean and deep into the Sahel. Following the fall of Syria’s Assad regime in December 2024, Libya has become even more central as a staging point for transporting troops and equipment into Africa.
The CAR represents Russia’s most complete case of influence on the continent. Since 2019, Russian operatives have been embedded in President Touadéra’s guard, trained local forces, and gained control of lucrative diamond and gold concessions. However, attempts to transition Wagner operations into the Africa Corps have met resistance, as Touadéra pressed the Kremlin to keep Wagner operatives in place.
In the Sahel region, Russian involvement has been particularly aggressive. In Mali, approximately 2,000 Russian personnel remain, despite Wagner formally ending operations in June 2025. Their operations have been marked by extreme violence, including the Moura massacre in March 2022, where an estimated 500 civilians were killed.
Burkina Faso’s young junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has become a cult figure promoted through Russian propaganda networks. Despite the pro-Russian pivot, Traoré’s government is struggling to control territory beyond major urban centers, with many analysts fearing the capital Ouagadougou could fall to jihadist groups.
Russian propaganda operations have proven remarkably effective. Polling data indicates that approval of Russia’s leadership rose by 22% in West Africa between 2020 and 2023, despite Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia exploits digital platforms, local influencers, and legitimate grievances about Western colonialism to build support.
European responses have generally been poor, hamstrung by insufficient funding, bureaucratic inertia, and overly cautious approaches. European sanctions often lack bite, while counterinformation efforts remain primarily defensive and reactive.
Experts recommend several approaches for Europe, including following African-led initiatives like Ghana’s Cybersecurity Authority, developing more compelling narratives about European interests in Africa, providing meaningful military training and equipment to partner nations, boosting funding for independent media, and loosening regulations to allow more flexible responses to Russian information operations.
The futures of Europe and Africa remain inextricably linked by history, demographics, economics, and geography. Democratic governments on both continents must push back together against those who seek to destabilize their societies and institutions through hybrid warfare tactics.
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11 Comments
The Kremlin’s hybrid warfare tactics in Africa are certainly concerning, but it’s also important to understand the historical context and grievances that Russia may be exploiting. Europe’s colonial legacy in Africa has left lasting resentment that Russia appears to be capitalizing on through its propaganda efforts.
That’s a good point. Russia is likely playing on longstanding anti-colonial sentiments in Africa to undermine European influence. Addressing those deeper historical tensions will be crucial, in addition to directly countering Russian disinformation campaigns on the ground.
Fascinating to see how Russia is using hybrid warfare tactics to assert its influence in Africa. Propaganda and military deployments are a potent combo, even if the actual scope of their operations is limited. It will be interesting to see how European nations respond to counter this threat to their historical influence on the continent.
You’re right, this is a concerning development. Russia seems to be taking a page from the Chinese playbook in using a mix of hard and soft power to gain influence in Africa. The reorganization of their operations under the Africa Corps and Africa Initiative suggests this will be an ongoing priority for the Kremlin.
I’m curious to learn more about the Africa Corps and Africa Initiative and how they are structured and operating. Are they tightly coordinated with the Kremlin, or do they have some autonomy? And what are the specific propaganda tactics they’re employing to sway public opinion in Africa?
Those are good questions. Gaining visibility into the inner workings of Russia’s hybrid warfare operations in Africa will be crucial for understanding their true scope and impact. Transparency around their funding, organizational structure, and specific disinformation tactics would shed more light on this concerning trend.
It’s troubling to see Russia leveraging military force and sophisticated propaganda to expand its influence in Africa. This seems like a concerted effort to counter European sway on the continent and potentially destabilize governments. I hope the international community can find ways to expose and counter these tactics before they gain further traction.
The Kremlin’s hybrid warfare approach in Africa is a concerning development. While the military operations may be limited, the propaganda machine appears to be quite powerful and effective at tapping into anti-European sentiment. This is a complex geopolitical challenge that will require a nuanced, multilateral response.
Agreed. Combating Russian disinformation and influence operations in Africa will necessitate a coordinated effort between European nations, the African Union, and international bodies like the UN. Transparency, fact-checking, and strategic communication will all be key to countering these tactics.
This report highlights the evolving geopolitical landscape in Africa as Russia asserts its influence through a combination of military deployments and sophisticated propaganda. It will be important for European nations and the broader international community to develop a nuanced, multi-faceted strategy to address this challenge.
Interesting to see how Russia is reorganizing its African operations under the Africa Corps and Africa Initiative. This suggests a more centralized and integrated approach to their hybrid warfare strategy on the continent. I wonder what specific tactics and narratives they are employing through these new entities.