How does russia influence Africa with anti-Ukrainian narratives?
Today Russia is significantly expanding its influence on Africa due to its propaganda. It aspires to occupy the leading positions in the information space of African states and displace the central world powers from the region. This is revealed both in the increase in media presence and the strengthening of influences on some African governments’ political and economic decisions.
russian propaganda channels broadcast in Arabic, English, and French and significantly promote narratives about the “bad West,” “bad” France, or the United States. Meanwhile, they assure that cooperation with the russian federation will be beneficial.
One of the most painful information topics, particularly for North Africa, is the shortage of basic food provision and its overpricing due to the war in Ukraine.
The goal of russian propaganda is to devolve responsibility for a possible famine upon Ukraine.
s. lavrov’s recent visit to African countries was targeted precisely to improve Russia’s image and promote pro-russian narratives regarding the war in Ukraine. He visited the states where the food problem is highly relevant – Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
The main subject of the visit was the criticism of Ukraine and the West and the accusations of threats to African countries. In the meantime, this should convince the African audience of the russian federation’s power and the need to rely on russia in foreign policy.
In the first place, russia has economic goals in Africa and is trying to retain sales markets and gain access to African natural resources. Nevertheless, the kremlin is also trying to win the support of African states in the international arena to satisfy its geopolitical ambitions regarding the world hegemony of the West.
Many African countries are dissatisfied with the actions of the West and the balance of power maintained in the geopolitical arena under its hegemony.
Consequently, the kremlin relies on these factors in its African campaign, spreading favorable narratives and building a positive image of a “decolonizer.”
Thus, russian propaganda uses traditional anti-Western sentiments based on memories of the colonial past. The African population has not encountered the russian imperial colonial policy and perceives the russian federation as the former USSR, which supported African anti-colonial liberation movements.
russia’s efforts to increase the dependence of African countries on the grain supply and the implementation of investment projects are not only aimed at the partners’ support in the international arena. The former is trying to push Ukraine out of African markets and leave our country without an income source. Therefore, Russian propaganda portrays Ukraine as an unreliable partner and the puppet of the West, promoting myths about the spread of racism in Ukraine.
