In the complex geopolitical chessboard of Africa, Evgueni Prigojine, a key Kremlin figure and financier of the Wagner Group, stands as a central player in spreading pro-Russian narratives. His influence network extends through organizations like the Afric (Association for Free Research and International Cooperation), led from Maputo by Mozambican academic José Matemulane. This structure, headed by Ioulia Afanasieva, a Prigojine associate, acts as a conduit for Russian influence operations across the continent.
Through Afric, Prigojine collaborates with panafricanist media outlets such as Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, based in Cameroon. The latter is owned by the Afrique Média press group, managed by Justin B. Tagouh, who claims to have met Vladimir Poutine during two visits to Sotchi. Cameroonian politician Banda Kani, leader of the Nouveau Mouvement Populaire party, frequently appears on the channel to promote pro-Kremlin stances, notably labeling Ukraine’s government as a “criminal oligarchy” and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a “thug.” The channel also hosts Kemi Seba, a controversial Franco-Béninois activist.
Kemi Seba: from panafricanism to Kremlin alliances
Kemi Seba, founder of the Urgence Panafricaniste NGO, has increasingly aligned with Aleksandr Douguine, a Russian nationalist ideologue advocating a multipolar world and opposing Western liberalism. Seba met with Vladimir Poutine in Russia as early as 2017 and again in March 2022, where he also engaged with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa and the Middle East, during a conference at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
In October 2020, Seba revealed on Vox Africa that he was invited by Prigojine to visit Russia, Sudan, and Libya. However, he distanced himself from the oligarch after being urged to carry out violent actions targeting Western symbols, even if it risked collateral damage in Africa. Despite this, Seba continues to amplify Kremlin-friendly narratives on social media, reinforcing his controversial reputation as a pro-Russian influencer.
Nathalie Yamb: the “Lady of Sotchi” and her anti-French crusade
Nathalie Yamb, a Swiss-Cameroonian activist close to Seba, has earned the nickname “Lady of Sotchi” following her participation in the Russia-Africa Summit in October 2019. She is among Africa’s most vocal critics of France and its allies, with a substantial social media following. Her outspoken views led to her expulsion from Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019.
According to the Free Russia Foundation, Yamb attended a conference in Berlin in January 2020 organized by Afric and the Foundation for the Protection of National Values, linked to Prigojine and directed by Alexander Malkevitch, a figure with 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 actively shares pro-Russian propaganda. While party founder Mamadou Koulibaly has officially retired from politics, he visited Bamako in mid-March to support Mali’s pro-Russian junta, citing a desire to “challenge the embargo” and stand with “young people fighting for sovereignty.”
The pro-Russian movement in Mali
In Mali, Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le Cerveau,” is a prominent figure advocating for Moscow’s presence. As spokesperson for the Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts movement, he confirmed in September 2021 that Wagner Group negotiations were underway between Bamako and Prigojine’s network. Since late 2021, Diarra has organized nearly all pro-Russian demonstrations in Mali, and he confirmed in early 2022 that “fifty Russian military experts” had been in the country for over a month, providing strategic assessments.
Radio Moscow in Bangui
Russia’s influence extends to the Central African Republic, where Fred Krock runs Lengo Songo, a widely listened-to radio station reportedly funded by Lobaye Invest, a mining company linked to Wagner. The station’s content aligns with Kremlin narratives, often echoing statements from key figures such as former ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, sociologist Maksim Shugaley, and Aleksandr Ivanov, head of the International Security Officers Community (Cosi).
Civil society figures like Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi (a member of the “Galaxie Nationale,” a pro-Touadéra platform) and Harouna Douamba, president of “Aimons notre Afrique” (an association funded by Lobaye Invest), frequently organize pro-Russian rallies in Bangui, amplifying Moscow’s messaging.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the Twitter account of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla—daughter of former president Jacob Zuma—has become a major amplifier of pro-Russian content, popularizing the #istandwithrussia hashtag, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of shares. Most associated posts denounce NATO and Western “imperialism.”
