00:00Russian Propaganda Website Targets Africa
00:03A Russian-linked media outlet is believed to be spreading propaganda across Africa,
00:11according to a report released by France's agency for monitoring foreign digital interference.
00:17The African initiative claims to be a Moscow-based news agency covering events on the African continent,
00:23running multiple websites and telegram channels and publishing content in several languages.
00:28Although the outlet appears legitimate at first glance,
00:31in reality it is part of a propaganda machine which is tied to the Russian state.
00:36Now let's wind back.
00:37In August 2023, Yevgeny Pryvkozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group,
00:41died in a plane crash, according to Russian state investigators.
00:45After Pryvkozhin's death, Russia began to dismantle Wagner-run operations and media apparatus across the African continent.
00:52It also launched the Africa Corps, which is believed to be closely managed by Russia's defense ministry.
00:59Meanwhile, in September 2023, the African initiative platform was created.
01:04It promotes anti-Western narratives across its online content,
01:08as well as offline through events and even video games.
01:11Many of the individuals who run the African initiative are affiliated with Russian intelligence services,
01:16while others have been identified as former Wagner members.
01:19By using local fronts and soft power initiatives like journalism schools and press trips,
01:25the outlet is working to embed itself in communities to spread ideas organically,
01:30beyond the limits of digital-only networks.
01:32The African initiative has also been pushing to develop its activities
01:36in the former French colonies of Mali, Niger and Durtina Faso.
01:40These West African countries have distanced themselves from France and other former Western allies,
01:45criticising failed interventions against jihadists, as well as their colonial legacies.
01:51And instead, they've turned to Russia.
