A battle for hearts and minds: How Russian propaganda takes over Africa
In many parts of Africa, memories of colonial exploitation, past foreign interference and broken promises remain vivid. These wounds – some still open – make fertile ground for narratives that tap into historical trauma, anti-Western sentiment and cultural conservatism. It is precisely this emotional terrain that Russian disinformation seeks to exploit.
The TruthAfrica project was born out of a growing need to track and challenge the insidious spread of propaganda across the continent. It is not just about fake news – it is about a calculated effort to reshape perceptions, shift alliances and undermine democratic development through what is now known as Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
Over the past months, our team has been monitoring and analysing how pro-Russian narratives gain traction in African information spaces. The findings are clear: the Kremlin’s messaging strategy leans heavily on emotional manipulation. It recasts Russia as a reliable partner, a fellow victim of Western arrogance, and a protector of “traditional values”- all while portraying the West as a neo-colonial force, greedy and hypocritical.
The Internet is full of narratives that not only travel online but also take root in hearts and conversations across the continent. From slick videos circulated on encrypted channels to state-sponsored news dressed up as grassroots opinion, these stories show how propaganda works not just as content but as a cultural weapon.
These narratives do not need complexity to be effective—just emotional clarity. And one of the most powerful tools in this arsenal is animation.
Cartoon as a weapon
Bright colours, simple graphics and universally understood messages allow cartoons to bypass language barriers and literacy levels. They are emotionally engaging and easily shareable, especially among younger audiences. In regions where internet access is limited and trust in traditional media is low, animated propaganda videos become not just entertainment, but ideology. Often, they subtly—or blatantly—undermine the legitimacy of Western presence, including French peacekeepers while painting Russia as a more sympathetic partner. A survey carried out in 17 countries showed that young Africans subscribe to anti-Western propaganda mechanically: they say they only “prefer the Russians to the French” because they think the latter are responsible for the stagnation of African societies. There is no positive support for Russia’s cause as such, but rather the imaginary projection of an alliance based on the adage that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Cartoons circulating online(opens in a new tab) for years that glorify different paramilitary groups and violently depict the rejection of the French presence in the Sahel region are the latest manifestation of pro-Russian propaganda on the African continent. Due to such effective propaganda, the primary enemy recently is no longer the jihadist groups responsible for bloody clashes and attacks for over a decade, but France, which has become the scapegoat. The way pro-Russian actors amplify jihadist and extremist narratives creates demand and support for the involvement of private military companies like the Wagner Group in the Sahel region. This comes at a heavy cost for the host countries, which are required — unlike regular military collaborations — to pay either through financial compensation or directly in natural resources… or both(opens in a new tab)! In the Central African Republic, for example, the sanctioned company Lobaye Invest, part of M-Finans owned by former PMC Wagner leader Evgeni Prigozhin, has been exposed for acting as a gold and diamond mining enterprise actually retribution for providing Wagner services in CAR. The same narratives about Western greediness are being spread… Who is exploiting whose natural resources now! In Mali, similar companies, namely Prime Security, Alpha Development and Marko Mining, were legally registered immediately after PMC Wagner was deployed, although they do not seem to have benefitted so far from mining licences. However, the legal framework to do so is already in place, should Malian authorities be unable to pay the US$10 million per month requested by Russia to continue operating(opens in a new tab) in the country.
Creating cartoons proved to be a valuable tool in the context of the war in Ukraine. The series Odnazhdy, distributed by the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Rybar, portrays Russian soldiers as noble heroes fighting for justice. In contrast, Ukrainian soldiers are depicted as weak, cowardly and controlled by the West. Ukraine is framed as a fake state. In one episode(opens in a new tab), Ukrainian troops claim they are fighting to move to the United States.
The success of cartoon propaganda is not confined to Africa. Similar techniques have been weaponised with precision in the context of the war in Ukraine – this time to shape perceptions far beyond the battlefield.
Russia is the ‘good guy’
In this narrative(opens in a new tab), Russia is not portrayed as the aggressor but as the victim—a nation compelled to act in self-defence against Western encroachment. This perspective is echoed not only in African information spaces but also across Europe, where pro-Russian voices reiterate the claim that the war is a necessary response to NATO’s expansion and Western hostility. By framing aggression as a form of defence, Russia justifies(opens in a new tab) its domestic policies and seeks international support, particularly in regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This aligns with its broader strategy to diminish Western influence and build alliances, among other objectives Egypt.
Many people in Africa see(opens in a new tab) Russia as an ally untainted by imperialism. This image stands in contrast to that of Western countries, which are often criticised for historical exploitation and oppressive colonialism. Russia claims it was never a coloniser, insisting its involvement was based on equality and a desire to help. The facts, however, tell a different story. A notable example(opens in a new tab) is Russia’s 19th-century attempts to establish colonies, such as “New Moscow,” in Ethiopia and along the Red Sea. Figures such as Nikolai Ashinov used(opens in a new tab) deception and private schemes to avoid direct military action. Far from seeking equality, Russia aimed to exploit(opens in a new tab) Ethiopia’s strategic location, cloaking ambitions in Orthodox Christian solidarity. Ethiopian leaders, however, resisted these efforts, preserving their sovereignty. Earlier, in the 1700s, Russia also unsuccessfully sought to use Madagascar(opens in a new tab) as a gateway to the Indian Ocean of course, not to mention the local expansionist policies that Imperial Russia, then Soviet Union and now current Russian Federation conducted on its immediate neighbourhood in Eastern Europe, Caucasia and Central Asia other centuries, with the most recent examples being Crimea in 2014 and then Ukraine in 2022, deliberately breaching international law and respect of territories formerly recognised by Russia as sovereign.
But back to Africa, those narratives are clearly also disregarding decades of Russian support to liberation movements across the continent, in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe to name a few. This support came in the form of financial aid, weapons and military trainings. Whether it brought positive changes or not, one can not deny it was mere interference. In times of Cold War, but still interference, not just to contest the West but to export Soviet ideology and model, gain foothold in Africa and promote Russian own agenda and interests.
Another narrative promoted(opens in a new tab) by Russia focuses on global debates over LGBTQIA+ rights and cultural values, with disinformation efforts deliberately(opens in a new tab) targeting Nigeria. Russia presents itself as a guardian of traditional norms, amplifying narratives that align with Nigeria’s religious and cultural resistance to LGBTQIA+ identities. These campaigns aim to undermine Western influence and position Russia as a morally aligned partner. Nigerian pro-Russian activists and religious leaders contribute to spreading pro-Russian narratives circulating on social media. These messages appeal to both Christian and Muslim communities, particularly in the north, where opposition to LGBTQIA+ individuals has been firmly established. The case of Nigeria, though not unique, illustrates how pro-Russian narratives exploit cultural and religious values to advance political goals driven by geopolitical ambition.
Together, these narratives form a carefully constructed ecosystem of influence. Whether through cartoons, historical revisionism or moral positioning, Russian propaganda in Africa taps into real frustrations and deeply held beliefs to reshape alliances and rewrite reality. By casting itself as a liberator, a cultural ally and a bulwark against alledged Western dominance and decadence, Russia builds soft power not through overt conquest, but through the careful manipulation of identity, memory and meaning. Understanding these strategies is the first step in countering them – because what is at stake is not just the truth, but the future of democratic sovereignty across the continent.