With the “African Initiative,” Russia Strengthens Its Influence in Burkina Faso

3rd December 2024

3 minutes read

With the "African Initiative," Russia Strengthens Its Influence in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has witnessed numerous efforts to promote the pro-Russian group known as the “African Initiative” through television, newspapers, and the internet.

These efforts, part of Russia’s broader attempts to bolster its influence on the African continent, have gained significant popularity in the African nation. However, the group’s partner organization, based in Moscow, faced accusations from the U.S. State Department earlier this year of undermining U.S.-funded public health projects across Africa, claims the group denied, according to The Washington Post.

Soumila Azino Ayu, the president of the African Initiative, told The Washington Post that the group has hosted dozens of events since its establishment to promote “friendship between the people of Burkina Faso and Russia.” He also noted that the group’s Facebook and Telegram pages have nearly 10,000 followers.

In recent years, Russia has ramped up its efforts in West Africa, particularly after military coups ousted governments perceived as close to the West, especially France.

Amid rising extremist violence in the region, particularly in Burkina Faso, the country’s interim president has emerged as a prominent advocate for working with Russia to curb the violence.

In the capital, Ouagadougou, the African Initiative has sponsored Russian martial arts competitions, screenings of Russian films—including works promoting the Wagner Group—and high-value prize raffles to draw followers to its social media channels.

Historical Ties

Russian-African relations date back to the 1960s when many African nations gained independence from colonial powers. However, Moscow’s influence waned after the Soviet Union’s collapse. Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has sought to reestablish its presence in Africa and counter Western influence.

Since the war in Ukraine, Africa has grown in importance for Russia due to Western sanctions, explains Joe Siegel, research director at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

Russia has also leveraged and amplified anti-colonial sentiments, particularly in former French colonies in West Africa, contributing to recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In these nations, military juntas expelled Western forces while welcoming cooperation with Russia to combat extremist violence.

Simultaneously, initiatives like the African Initiative and other media platforms have targeted African audiences with pro-Russian narratives blended with African nationalism. African journalists have been invited to “war tours” in Ukraine, while opportunities for African students to study in Russia have increased.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation based in Mali, remarked, “Russia excels at marketing itself in Africa, far better than Europeans or Americans. The West funds 90% of development needs, but you never hear about it.”

Establishing the African Initiative

The African Initiative was launched shortly after a Russian news channel of the same name began operations in Moscow, led by Artyom Korev. Western analysts noted that the channel, created a month after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, mirrors strategies used by his media empire while being closely tied to the Russian state.

In an email to The Washington Post, Korev stated that the African Initiative in Burkina Faso is a “partner” NGO, alongside a similar organization in Mali. He added that his news channels and their partners are privately funded.

He concluded, “We all share a single initiative: to free Africa from neo-colonialism, Western-backed terrorism, and propaganda for homosexuality, among other things.”