At the heart of Moscow’s influence campaigns in Africa stands Evgueni Prigojine, a key Kremlin ally and financier of the Wagner Group. Through his network of proxies, including the Afric association led by Mozambican academic José Matemulane and Russian operative Ioulia Afanasieva, Prigojine orchestrates disinformation and propaganda operations across the continent. These efforts align with the Kremlin’s broader strategy to challenge Western presence and promote pro-Russian narratives.

Afric collaborates closely with panafricanist outlets like Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, a Cameroon-based channel owned by Justin B. Tagouh, who claims to have met Vladimir Poutine during visits to Sotchi. The network’s messaging often targets France, portraying it as a neocolonial power, while amplifying pro-Kremlin voices. For instance, Banda Kani, leader of Cameroon’s Nouveau mouvement populaire, frequently appears on Afrique Média TV to denounce Ukraine as an “oligarchic crime syndicate” and its president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “rogue.”

Kemi Seba’s Kremlin ties

Kemi Seba, the Franco-Béninois activist and founder of Urgence panafricaniste, has become a prominent Kremlin ally. His alignment with Moscow’s anti-Western agenda is no secret—he has met with Aleksandr Douguine, a Russian nationalist ideologue close to Putin, multiple times, including in 2017 and early 2022. During his latest trip to Moscow, Seba also held discussions with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister for Africa and the Middle East, before delivering a speech at the State Institute of International Relations.

Seba’s pro-Kremlin stance was further cemented when he revealed in 2020 that Evgueni Prigojine invited him to Russia, Sudan, and Libya. Though he later distanced himself from Prigojine after refusing to endorse violent anti-Western actions—even at the risk of collateral damage in Africa—Seba continues to promote Kremlin narratives on social media.

Nathalie Yamb: Moscow’s champion in Africa

Dubbed the “Dame de Sotchi” after her participation in the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit, Nathalie Yamb is one of Africa’s most vocal critics of France and its allies. The Cameroonian-Swiss activist, a close associate of Kemi Seba, has been expelled from Côte d’Ivoire for her inflammatory rhetoric. According to the Free Russia Foundation, Yamb attended a 2020 Berlin conference organized by Afric and the Foundation for the Protection of National Values, a group linked to Prigojine and headed by Alexander Malkevitch, a figure with ties to Russian intelligence.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yamb has openly sided with Moscow. She is also a member of Côte d’Ivoire’s Lider party, whose Twitter account amplifies pro-Russian propaganda. Though the party’s founder, Mamadou Koulibaly, has retired from politics, he visited Bamako in March 2022 to support Mali’s pro-Russian junta, citing a desire to “break the embargo” and empower African youth.

Mali: A hub for Russian influence

In Mali, Adama Diarra—known as “Ben le cerveau”—is a leading figure in the pro-Russian movement. As spokesperson for Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts, he confirmed in 2021 that Wagner Group mercenaries were negotiating with Mali’s government to establish a presence in the country. Diarra, a member of the National Transitional Council, has since organized numerous pro-Russian rallies in Bamako. “Fifty Russian military experts have been in Mali for over a month, providing strategic advice,” he stated.

Radio Moscow’s reach in Bangui

Moscow’s influence extends to the Central African Republic (CAR), where Fred Krock runs Lengo Songo, a widely listened-to radio station allegedly funded by Lobaye Invest, a mining company tied to Wagner. The station amplifies voices of Russian officials in CAR, including former ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, and sociologist Maksim Shugaley.

Local pro-Russian activists like Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi and Harouna Douamba, both members of the “Galaxie nationale” platform (a pro-Touadéra group), frequently organize pro-Moscow rallies in Bangui. Their activities are bolstered by Lobaye Invest’s financial support.

South Africa’s social media sphere also amplifies pro-Russian narratives, with the Twitter account of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla—daughter of former president Jacob Zuma—popularizing the #istandwithrussia hashtag. Most posts under this tag denounce NATO and Western imperialism.