Russian-backed journalism courses expand influence in Africa
The French newspaper Le Monde reports on journalism courses in Mali conducted by the African Initiative, which, according to the newspaper, is backed by Russian intelligence services. This is another example of Moscow's efforts to strengthen its African influence.
According to "Le Monde", in July this year, African Initiative started free online journalism courses in Mali, conducted in French by Mikhail Pozdniakov. Out of about 60 participants, six will be selected to become correspondents for this organisation.
The French newspaper emphasises that African Initiative, which describes itself as a "news agency", is actually a project supported by Russian intelligence services. Following the death of the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in August 2023, this organisation received a task from the Russian Ministry of Defence to develop a propaganda network in Africa, initiated by the Wagner Group.
"Le Monde", in cooperation with investigative journalists from "Forbidden Stories", obtained the contents of lectures consisting of eight video modules. In them, Pozdniakov states, among other things, that the internet has become "an alternative battlefield where the war is waged not by regular armies but by journalists, specialists in information campaigns, political technology experts, and opinion leaders."
African Initiative, as noted by "Le Monde", has offices in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and is also seeking local correspondents in other African countries. In recent months, dozens of journalists from Africa have been invited on study visits to Russia.
Expert Maxime Audinet from IRSEM (a think tank of the French Ministry of Defence) compares these activities to a "laundering of information" mechanism.
"Moscow, while spreading content directly through its own channels, also uses local relays (journalists), whom it trains and who will be seen by African audiences as much more credible," the expert said.
