The media has often talked about the support for Russia stemming out of India and China. The press has been replete with stories about how India and China have been helping Russia by abstaining against resolutions in the UN and also buying commodities such as oil on the cheap. However, much more explicit support for Russia stems from Africa, in particular Mali and the Central African Republic. 

Days ago, a coup in Burkina Faso brought the people to the streets. Cries of elation were followed by the waving of flags and slogans in public. One thing that stuck out quite vividly in the pictures; The Russian flag. Now, why would flags of Russia be waved alongside Burkina Faso’s? Did Russia help in orchestrating the coup? To what extent does Russia’s influence extend in the continent? Your guess is as good as mine. 

Russian flags during the coup in Burkina Faso

Africa’s civil wars and the Wagner Group

Gun-wielding Islamic extremists assaulted a hotel in Mali while brandishing grenades. They claim that militants connected to Al Qaeda are everywhere in this region. West Africa is seeing an increase in Islamic radicalism. As jihadist organisations continue to expand in their most promising location outside of the Middle East, there were more than 200 terrorist attacks carried out by organisations affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.

With the assistance of French forces, Mali has been waging a long war against militants affiliated with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Terrorists aim to once more spread their vile presence wherever they may murder and commit atrocities. However, a military coup in 2020 and another one a year later led to a split on the diplomatic front. Additionally, France announced its military withdrawal in February. As ties deteriorated, Mali went to Wagner, one of the most infamous mercenary organisations in the world, to fill the hole.

Russia's Wagner group has a strong presence in the African continent

They are largely former soldiers who now work for a renowned private military firm with connections to Putin and his friends. It is the most recent nation in Africa to hire Russian mercenaries as Moscow takes advantage of unstable administrations and military takeovers to advance its objectives there. Russia has suddenly emerged as an African power broker, but many worry about the implications for nations already confronting conflict and corruption. Numerous charges of war crimes, including torture, rape, and murder, are being made against Russian mercenaries in the Central African Republic. There is no obligation, and there is no agreement. They are free to act as they like. We've witnessed increased instability everywhere Russian mercenaries have gone, not less.

Peace is not in their interests. They naturally want the fight to go on. How therefore is Moscow using the disarray to increase its power in Africa? And do Russian mercenaries deliver the security they guarantee or do they merely incite violence in nations that are longing for peace?

It is possible to trace the origins of this recent Russian intervention in Africa outside of the continent. The Wagner organisation, a mysterious network of mercenaries that arose to back pro-Russian separatists in the east, made its debut during the conflict in Ukraine in 2014. Even as the Kremlin pretended to be unaware, the enigmatic unidentified fighters, known as the "little green men," assisted Moscow in seizing the region from Ukraine. A year later, Russia aided dictatorial Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in crushing a popular uprising. These were some of the earliest indications of a new foreign policy strategy in Africa, where Russia backs proxies to establish a presence. Moscow discovered that it might be opportunistic and support oppressed autocrats who are politically isolated, drastically enhancing Moscow's geopolitical position. 

Omar al Bashir, the president of Sudan, was one of those autocrats who struggled in 2017, and he sought support from Russia to strengthen his flimsy government. One year later, when massive anti-government demonstrations erupted, stolen documents indicate that Wagner operatives gave Bashir advice on how to quell the unrest, and Russian mercenaries were seen roaming the streets of Khartoum. Activists shared pictures of men who were heavily armed and were watching the action in January. They were independent Russian contractors, according to the Sudanese government and military sources. Protests persisted despite their efforts, and Bashir was ultimately ousted by the military. Sudan, the continent's third-largest producer of gold, grants Moscow significant mining concessions in exchange for its assistance. They can attempt to seize mining operations or mining zones, either for Russian businesses to enter or for the export of gold or diamonds from any particular nation.

In 2021, Sudan underwent yet another democratic coup. Russia flourishes under these environments specifically. In an effort to protect its interests, Russia kept in touch with the military leaders who orchestrated the coup, and now is one of its most daring accomplices. Across the continent, a pattern has started to take shape whereby corrupt, authoritarian regimes are susceptible to Russian rapacious interests. When they are unable to turn to the west for help, they will find someone willing to help them who is not from the west. And more often than not, that someone has been Russia. Now, the Kremlin is focusing on Sahel-region nations like Mali. The area has struggled with a jihadist insurgency for many years. ISIS-affiliated organisations in this area have intensified their operations. And after the collapse of its caliphate in Syria, the continent appears to be becoming more significant to ISIS. France, a former colonial power, has sent thousands of troops to the area to aid with security. However, the violence has continued despite these efforts. Teenagers today have a strong anti-French mentality. As Frances struggles, they grow more and more convinced that they must leave. Mali's democratic government was overthrown by mutinous soldiers in 2020, and nine months later they solidified their power in a second coup.

Global leaders worry that this most recent coup could create a leadership vacuum in the nation, which has long been marred by violence. France declared its decision to withdraw its forces after over a decade as a result of the move, which caused friction. Russia has entered as France leaves now. Weapons and training have been provided by Moscow, and late last year, Wagner mercenaries began to arrive. Moscow now uses the mercenary group as a low-cost means of achieving its objectives. The Russians are merely intervening to lessen Western influence in order to increase Russia's strength on a global scale. The Kremlin employs this tactic and steadfastly rejects any relationship with the group.

Russia has plausible links to the Wagner group and other proxy actors. As a result, they participate in an armed battle without taking part in it directly. Politically, it appears positive that no members of your own armed forces are returning in body bags. However, the country that uses Wagner frequently pays a high price. Mercenaries are charged with aiding in a massacre in Mali that claimed 300 lives in March 2022. Additionally, Wagner has been charged with murder, rape, and torture in the Central African Republic, one of the most underdeveloped nations on earth. Wagner's opaque character, however, makes it very hard to hold those responsible for the countless documented events accountable.

Consider the regular armed forces; they have a distinct chain of command. They are dressed in uniforms. Therefore, there is a chance of being able to identify an army member who is responsible for a violation of human rights. However, none of that framework applies when speaking of mercenaries. That presents serious problems.

Russia has a second strategy at its disposal as it broadens its influence. With at least 16 programmes on the continent, Moscow is currently the biggest supporter of disinformation. There is evidence that Russian operatives have carried out information or misinformation campaigns in nations ranging from Madagascar to South Africa to Nigeria, according to the US-funded Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The Kremlin has a history of tampering with democratic processes. Russia manipulated the US in 2016 through cyberattacks and misinformation tactics. Election. Vladimir Putin allegedly personally directed a cyber and social media effort to sabotage the most recent US Presidential election, according to the FBI, CIA, and NSA. Russia introduced Madagascar to this fresh form of election meddling two years later. With the strategic meddling and strategic influencing of virtually all candidates, Russian operatives bribed candidates to withdraw from the race, founded newspapers to disseminate false information, and paid young people to attend rallies in an effort to see how they could essentially tip the election in someone's favour. Pro-Russian propaganda may be found all throughout the continent in different ways.

You can see billboards in the Central African Republic. Wagner is lauded by statues. A stadium was packed with Central Africans last year for the debut of a movie with Russian paramilitaries. In this latest film, Tourist, supported by a business connected to Russian mercenaries, are praised as valiant protectors who have freed Central Africa. It has sparked a lot of pro-Russian sentiment and the idea that Russia is saving these nations in some way. These strategies increase instability by sowing distrust in the democratic process. There is no such thing as having accurate information versus false information for Russia.

Russian billboards in the Central African Republic

Information of every kind can be a weapon in conflict. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier this year has had significant worldwide effects. It is more crucial than ever for Moscow to win the information battle with the west and attract new allies. Russia was compelled to seek for new economic and diplomatic partners because of its goal to win international backing for its activities in Ukraine. Africa was the next destination. And they are succeeding. Many African nations opted for neutrality when the UN voted to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine in March. Africa is home to over half of the nations that refrained from denouncing the Kremlin's activities at the UN General Assembly gathering earlier this month. Russia is anxious to demonstrate that it has a place not just in Africa but also on the international scene as it competes against other giants like the US and China. For them, Africa appears to be a very practical platform where they can meet new people and demonstrate that they matter in the world. Russia is also present, so it's not only France or the west. President Vladimir Putin made it clear that Africa was a priority in terms of foreign policy at the inaugural Russia-Africa meeting in 2019. The people of Africa, though, stand to lose the most from Moscow's geopolitical gambit. Russia has no interest in free media, nor does Russia have any interest in human rights. And it, in my opinion, has the potential to be unstable. There is still no peace, as evidenced by nations like the Central African Republic. And a lot of people would claim that the area is destroyed where Russia passes.

The poster of the movie Tourist has strong Russian propaganda

France’s decline is Russia’s opportunity

All the while capitalising on France's decline in power in its former colony, a nation torn apart by a protracted, brutal civil war. Thousands of kilometres away from Cave, in Bangui, people are waving the Russian flag. It is the nation's capital and the former French colony of the Central African Republic. A Russian-funded anti-French organisation is in charge of the demonstrations. Russia is struggling, thus we must assist them. This protest serves simply to demonstrate to them that the Central African Republic is a staunch ally of Russia. Support from Russia is essential for the Central African Republic. The nation has been engaged in a civil war for years, and recent violence has erupted. The government gathered all of its available forces last year after feeling threatened by the rebels encircling the city.

Arguments against a France that is losing influence are thrown into the pro-Russian conversation, and Moscow is filling the void rapidly. The most popular beverage is a French company's local beer. It currently has a new rival. With the first bottle of vodka ever sold in the Central African Republic, Russia increases its influence in the taverns of Bangui designed by a company with ties to the Russian mercenary.

Coup in Burkina Faso exposes Russian influence in Africa

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