In the geopolitical chessboard of Africa, certain voices have emerged as vocal supporters of Russian narratives, often amplifying Kremlin-aligned messages across the continent. These figures, operating through media platforms, political movements, and social networks, serve as key conduits for Moscow’s soft power strategy in Africa.
the kremlin’s african megaphones
At the heart of this network is Evgueni Prigojine, a prominent oligarch within Vladimir Poutine’s inner circle and the financier behind the Wagner Group. Prigojine leverages organizations like the Afric (Association for Free Research and International Cooperation), led from Maputo by Mozambican academic José Matemulane. This association is chaired by Ioulia Afanasieva, a close associate of Prigojine, and acts as a front for spreading pro-Russian propaganda throughout Africa.
The Afric maintains strong ties with panafricanist media outlets such as Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, both platforms for anti-Western messaging. Headquartered in Cameroon, Afrique Média TV is owned by the Afrique Média press group, directed by Justin B. Tagouh—who has twice visited Sotchi and claims to have met Vladimir Poutine. Cameroonian politician Banda Kani, president of the Nouveau mouvement populaire party, frequently appears on the channel to endorse extreme pro-Kremlin stances, including labeling Ukraine’s government as a “criminal oligarchy” and its president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “thug.”
kemi seba: from panafricanism to pro-kremlin rhetoric
Kemi Seba, the Franco-Béninese activist and founder of Urgence panafricaniste, has become a central figure in this ecosystem. Over recent years, he has aligned himself with Aleksandr Douguine, a Russian nationalist ideologue advocating for a multipolar world and anti-Western, anti-liberal policies—an influential voice in Poutine’s circle. Seba met with the Russian leader in 2017 and again in early March, where he also engaged with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister for Africa and the Middle East. During his visit, Seba delivered a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
In an October 2020 appearance on Vox Africa, Seba revealed he was invited by Prigojine to Russia, Sudan, and Libya. However, he distanced himself from the oligarch when Prigojine allegedly urged him to carry out violent actions against Western symbols, even if it caused collateral damage in Africa. Despite this, Seba continues to promote Kremlin-friendly narratives across his social media platforms.
nathalie yamb: the “dame de sotchi” and anti-french crusader
Nathalie Yamb, a Cameroonian-Swiss activist and vocal critic of French influence in Africa, has earned the nickname “Dame de Sotchi” following her participation in the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit. Known for her strong anti-Western rhetoric, Yamb was expelled from Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019. According to a report by the Free Russia Foundation, she attended a January 2020 conference in Berlin organized by the Afric and the Foundation for the Protection of National Values—a group linked to Prigojine and led by Alexander Malkevitch, a journalist with alleged ties to Russian intelligence.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yamb has openly supported Moscow’s military actions. She is also a member of Côte d’Ivoire’s Lider party, whose Twitter account regularly amplifies pro-Russian propaganda. Though the party’s founder, Mamadou Koulibaly, has retired from politics and stepped back from social media, 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 desire to “defy the embargo and stand with the people and youth fighting for sovereignty.”
Mali: a hotspot for russian influence operations
In Mali, Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le cerveau,” is one of the leading proponents of Russian presence in the country. As a spokesperson for Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts, a pro-Russian association, Diarra confirmed in September 2021 that Wagner Group mercenaries were negotiating a security deal with Malian authorities. A member of the National Transitional Council, he has since orchestrated multiple pro-Russia demonstrations in Bamako.
“Fifty Russian military experts have been in Mali for over a month conducting an assessment,” Diarra stated, highlighting his role in organizing pro-Russia rallies since late 2021.
bangui’s airwaves: radio kremlin’s echo chamber
In the Central African Republic (CAR), Fred Krock, director of the widely followed Lengo Songo radio, serves as a key Kremlin ally. The station is reportedly fully funded by Lobaye Invest, a mining company tied to the Wagner Group and originally managed by Evgueni Khodotov, a Prigojine loyalist. Its content is frequently featured by Ria Fan, a Russian news agency that amplifies voices within Prigojine’s media ecosystem.
Through Lengo Songo, figures such as former ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, sociologist Maksim Shugaley, and Aleksandr Ivanov, head of the Community of Officers for International Security, regularly share their perspectives. The station also amplifies voices from civil society, including Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi, a member of the pro-Touadéra Galaxie nationale platform, and Harouna Douamba, president of the association Aimons notre Afrique—both funded by Lobaye Invest and active in organizing pro-Russia demonstrations in Bangui.
South Africa: digital amplification of Moscow’s narrative
Even in South Africa, pro-Russian sentiments are amplified through digital platforms. The Twitter account (with over 200,000 followers) attributed to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, is credited with popularizing the hashtag #istandwithrussia in the country. The account, which frequently shares anti-NATO and anti-Western content, has garnered hundreds of thousands of engagements.