In Burkina Faso, teenage footballers stand to attention as the Russian national anthem plays before their match. Nearby, graffiti artists paint a mural of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a local festival. These scenes reflect Russia’s increasing efforts to expand its influence across Africa, using cultural and media outreach.
The Media has uncovered evidence showing that Russia is leveraging initiatives like African Initiative, a newly founded media organization, to engage African journalists, influencers, and students while spreading misleading information. African Initiative brands itself as an “information bridge between Russia and Africa” but has inherited infrastructure from the now-disbanded Wagner mercenary group. Experts believe it has ties to Russia’s security services.
Founded in September 2023, a month after Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, African Initiative absorbed former Wagner employees and has focused its efforts on three military-run West African nations: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Following recent coups, these countries have distanced themselves from traditional Western allies, particularly France, and aligned more closely with Russia, criticizing Western intervention and colonial legacies.
In addition to organizing cultural events, African Initiative operates a multilingual news site, video channels, and several Telegram accounts with tens of thousands of followers. Some of these Telegram channels originally belonged to groups linked to Wagner and now promote Russia’s Africa Corps, a paramilitary group that has replaced Wagner’s military wing in the region.
The organization also amplifies pro-Kremlin narratives and disinformation, particularly about the United States. Stories on its website allege, without evidence, that the U.S. is using Africa for bio-weapons testing, echoing long-debunked Kremlin propaganda.
African Initiative also organizes “press tours” for African journalists, taking them to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. These tours expose journalists to Russian state narratives, and their reports often reflect Moscow’s perspective. For instance, some journalists have referred to occupied Ukrainian regions as “conflict zones in Russia” and parrot Kremlin positions on Ukraine’s borders.
In addition to media outreach, African Initiative has been active in grassroots community events. In Burkina Faso, the organization has sponsored football tournaments, first aid workshops, and even school lessons promoting Russian culture. It has also organized screenings of pro-Russian films and distributed food to locals.
The organization’s growing presence across Africa highlights Russia’s efforts to reshape its image and gain influence in a region that is increasingly turning away from the West. Through African Initiative, Moscow is combining cultural diplomacy with media strategies to assert its presence and win hearts and minds in countries like Burkina Faso.
