Pro-russian voices in africa: key figures pushing Moscow’s agenda

In the complex geopolitical landscape of Africa, pro-Russian voices are gaining influence through a network of activists, media outlets, and political figures. These individuals and groups actively promote Moscow’s interests across the continent, often amplifying anti-Western narratives and challenging traditional alliances.

the kremlin’s african network: how prigojine’s influence spreads

Evgueni Prigojine, a close ally of Vladimir Poutine and financier of the Wagner Group, is a central figure in this strategy. His influence in Africa is channeled through the Afric (Association for Free Research and International Cooperation), led by Mozambican academic José Matemulane from Maputo. The association is chaired by Ioulia Afanasieva, a Prigojine associate, and serves as a conduit for Kremlin-backed operations on the continent.

The Afric collaborates with panafricanist media platforms such as Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, which are based in Cameroon. The latter is part of the Afrique Média press group, managed by Justin B. Tagouh, who has twice visited Sotchi and claims to have met Poutine. Within this ecosystem, figures like Cameroonian politician Banda Kani, president of the Nouveau mouvement populaire party, openly endorse pro-Kremlin stances. He has labeled Ukraine’s government an “oligarchic criminal regime” and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a “thug.”

Afrique Média TV frequently hosts prominent pro-Russian voices, including Kemi Seba, a Franco-Beninese activist known for his anti-colonial campaigns and vocal support for Moscow’s positions.

kemi seba: from anti-french rhetoric to kremlin alliances

Kemi Seba, founder of the Urgence panafricaniste NGO, has cultivated ties with Russian nationalist Aleksandr Douguine, a key architect of Putin’s anti-Western ideology. Seba met with Poutine in Russia as early as 2017 and again in March 2022, where he also engaged with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa and the Middle East. His speeches in Moscow included a lecture at the State Institute of International Relations.

In 2020, Seba revealed on Vox Africa that he had been invited by Prigojine to visit Russia, Sudan, and Libya. However, he distanced himself from the oligarch after being urged to carry out violent actions against Western symbols, even if it meant collateral damage in Africa. Despite this, Seba continues to voice pro-Kremlin narratives on social media.

nathalie yamb: the “dame de sotchi” and her pro-russian crusade

Nathalie Yamb, a Cameroonian-Swiss activist close to Seba, has branded herself the “Dame de Sotchi” following her high-profile attendance at the Russia-Africa summit in October 2019. Yamb is one of Africa’s most followed critics of France and its allies, a stance that led to her expulsion from Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019.

According to a report by the Free Russia Foundation, Yamb participated in a conference organized by Afric in Berlin in January 2020, alongside the Foundation for the Protection of National Values—a group linked to Prigojine and led by Alexander Malkevitch, a figure with ties to Russian intelligence. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yamb has openly supported the Russian military.

Yamb is also a member of Côte d’Ivoire’s Lider party, whose Twitter account frequently amplifies pro-Russian propaganda. Though the party’s founder, Mamadou Koulibaly, has retired from politics, he visited Bamako in mid-March to express support for Mali’s pro-Russian junta. In an interview with Vox Africa, Koulibaly explained his visit was in response to an invitation from a panafricanist youth movement, stating his intent to “violate the embargo and support the people fighting for sovereignty.”

pro-russian networks in Mali and central africa

In Mali, Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le cerveau,” is a leading pro-Russian voice. As spokesperson for the Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts movement, he confirmed in September 2021 that negotiations were underway for a Wagner Group contract between the Malian government and Prigojine’s network. Since then, he has organized numerous pro-Russian protests in Bamako.

Diarra has repeatedly stated that “fifty Russian military experts have been in Mali for over a month, providing strategic assessments.” A member of the National Transitional Council (CNT), he plays a pivotal role in shaping Mali’s pro-Russian sentiment.

In the Central African Republic (CAR), Fred Krock, director of the influential radio station Lengo Songo, is a key Kremlin ally. The station is reportedly funded by Lobaye Invest, a mining company tied to the Wagner Group and initially managed by Evgueni Khodotov, a Prigojine associate. Lengo Songo’s content is frequently promoted by Ria Fan, a Russian media outlet linked to Prigojine’s network.

Key figures in CAR’s pro-Russian scene, including former ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, sociologist Maksim Shugaley, and Aleksandr Ivanov, head of the International Security Officers Community (Cosi), regularly feature on the station. Civil society members like Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi and Harouna Douamba, both aligned with President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, also use the platform to organize pro-Russian demonstrations.

South Africa’s digital pro-russian wave

While South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) maintains close ties with Moscow, social media amplifies pro-Russian narratives. The Twitter account of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, popularized the #istandwithrussia hashtag, which has been shared hundreds of thousands of times. Most posts under this tag denounce NATO and Western imperialism.