The Kremlin’s influence in Africa extends far beyond political and military channels. Behind a network of vocal supporters promoting pro-Russia narratives across the continent are individuals like Kemi Seba and Nathalie Yamb, whose online activism and media connections amplify Moscow’s messaging. These influential figures, often labeled as influenceurs, serve as key amplifiers of narratives aligned with Russian interests, particularly in Francophone Africa.

the kremlin’s african network: evgueni prigojine and his proxies

A central figure in this ecosystem is Evgueni Prigojine, a close ally of Vladimir Poutine and financier of the shadowy Wagner Group. Prigojine operates through intermediary organizations such as the Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (Afric), led from Maputo by Mozambican academic José Matemulane. Presided over by Ioulia Afanasieva, a Prigojine associate, Afric channels resources and coordinates influence campaigns across Africa.

Afric collaborates with panafricanist media outlets like Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, both based in Cameroon and owned by the Afrique Média group under Justin B. Tagouh. Tagouh, who claims to have met Poutine twice in Sotchi, uses his platforms to broadcast anti-French and pro-Russian content. On these networks, figures such as Banda Kani, leader of Cameroon’s Nouveau mouvement populaire, openly endorse Kremlin positions—including labeling Ukraine’s government as a “criminal oligarchy” and its president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “thug.”

Afrique Média TV frequently hosts Kemi Seba, the Franco-Béninois activist known for his anti-colonial stance and fiery rhetoric against Western powers. Seba, who has developed ties with Russian nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Douguine, visited Moscow in 2017 and again in early March 2022. During his latest trip, he met with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa and the Middle East, and delivered a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Seba has acknowledged being invited by Prigojine to Russia, Sudan, and Libya in 2020 but claims to have distanced himself after rejecting proposals for violent actions against Western symbols, even if it meant collateral damage in Africa. Despite this, he continues to promote pro-Kremlin narratives on social media.

Another prominent voice in this network is Nathalie Yamb, a Swiss-Cameroonian activist dubbed the “Lady of Sotchi” after her participation in the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit. Yamb, expelled from Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019 for her anti-French rhetoric, is one of the continent’s most followed critics of Western influence. According to the Free Russia Foundation, she attended a Berlin conference organized by Afric in January 2020, co-hosted with the Foundation for the Protection of National Values — a group linked to Prigojine and led by Alexander Malkevitch, a figure with alleged ties to Russian intelligence. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yamb has openly supported the Russian military.

Yamb is also associated with Côte d’Ivoire’s Lider party, whose Twitter account widely disseminates pro-Russian propaganda. Although the party’s founder, Mamadou Koulibaly, has officially retired from politics and stepped back from social media, he traveled to Bamako in mid-March to support Mali’s pro-Russian military junta. In an interview with Vox Africa, Koulibaly stated he responded to an invitation from a youth panafricanist movement, emphasizing his support for “breaking the embargo and aiding populations and youth fighting for their sovereignty.”

pro-russian activism in Mali: the case of adama diarra

In Mali, Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le cerveau,” is a leading pro-Russian activist and spokesperson for the group Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts. In September 2021, he became the first to confirm rumors of a Wagner Group contract between Mali’s government and Prigojine’s network. He has since organized nearly all pro-Russian demonstrations in Bamako and revealed the presence of “fifty Russian military experts” in the country for over a month, conducting assessments and providing advisory support to local authorities.

central african republic: a kremlin media stronghold

Moscow’s influence extends to the Central African Republic (CAR), where Fred Krock manages Lengo Songo, one of the country’s most popular radio stations. Funded by Lobaye Invest — a mining company tied to Wagner and initially directed by Evgueni Khodotov, a Prigojine loyalist — the station amplifies voices of Russian-backed figures in Bangui. Its content is frequently highlighted by Ria Fan, a Russian news agency operating within Prigojine’s media ecosystem.

Lengo Songo regularly features prominent Russian figures in CAR, including former Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, sociologist Maksim Shugaley, and Aleksandr Ivanov, head of the Community of Officers for International Security (Cosi). The station is widely used by civil society members such as Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi, from the pro-Touadéra platform “Galaxie nationale,” and Harouna Douamba, president of “Aimons notre Afrique,” an association funded by Lobaye Invest. Both are active organizers of pro-Russian rallies in Bangui.

The African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa also amplifies pro-Russian narratives online. The Twitter account attributed to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, was among the first to popularize the hashtag #istandwithrussia in the country, generating hundreds of thousands of shares. Most posts under this hashtag denounce NATO and Western imperialism.

From Bamako to Bangui and Abidjan, a growing number of African voices are aligning with Moscow’s geopolitical agenda. Whether through media, activism, or political alliances, these pro-Russian influenceurs are reshaping narratives on the continent — often with significant backing from Kremlin-linked networks.