Russia intensifies special information operations in Africa, intelligence says
Photo: Russia intensifies information operations in Africa (Getty Images)
Russia has recently intensified its information operations in Africa. In particular, there has been increased attention in the Russian-African media space to the deployment of the African Corps in the Central African Republic, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
The inaugural meeting of the Pan-African Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature was held in Cairo.
The event served several purposes: to establish a new organization, to define its main areas of activity, and to hold a round table discussion on managing projects to promote the Russian language in Africa.
The conference took place against the backdrop of increased Russian information activity on the African continent. In September 2023, the so-called African Initiative was launched in Moscow - an information agency based on the network that remained after the liquidation of the Wagner terrorist group.
The agency quickly opened offices in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, countries ruled by regimes oriented toward Russia. The agency is headed by FSB employee Artem Kureev, and his deputy is former Wagner press service employee Anna Zamaraeva.
The organization's main activities are aimed at training local journalists, attracting Africans to study in Russia, providing information support for the export of Russian weapons, and promoting the African Corps.
St. Petersburg State University is also actively cooperating with African partners and announced during the conference its intention to create a professional infrastructure for Russian language teachers.
Russia plans to create a single platform for its university graduates from Africa to coordinate their activities in promoting the Russian language and forming a positive image of Russia abroad.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine also reported that the Kremlin is deploying a large disinformation network in Africa and Latin America.
