Russia turns Mali into disinformation hub

By Tony Wesolowsky | 2025-06-02

Russia is intensifying its influence campaign in Mali, using the country as a testing ground for a broader effort to cultivate a pro-Moscow information environment across Africa, analysts say.

Through a potent mix of military support, state media expansion and psychological operations, the Kremlin is transforming Mali into a proving ground for its influence operations -- a new kind of foreign intervention that deploys not only troops and weapons but also a relentless stream of disinformation.

After a 2021 coup and subsequent breakdown in relations with France, Mali's newly installed ruling junta turned sharply toward Moscow. Russian paramilitaries -- most notably from the Wagner Group -- soon arrived, ostensibly to support counterterrorism operations.

But their mission quickly took on more opaque and disturbing dimensions.

According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Russia's state-sponsored influence operations -- distinct from Wagner's presence -- now account for almost 40% of all disinformation campaigns across Africa, with Mali emerging as a central hub in this effort.

Wagner's brutal tactics, including alleged massacres of civilians, have drawn international condemnation. However, inside Mali, such abuses are often airbrushed out or reframed by pro-Kremlin media narratives.

Controlling the narrative

Russian disinformation in Mali is growing increasingly sophisticated, incorporating everything from manipulated social media content to the recruitment of local influencers, the Lansing Institute notes in a new assessment.

Russia is "increasingly using ideological influence as a weapon -- not only through disinformation but by building alternative narratives to counter the Western-led information order," said the report published on May 16.

"In Africa, Russia is experimenting with deep cultural, media and psychological operations to reshape local allegiance."

Russia's military footprint in Mali continues to deepen. Russian military involvement, including the construction of bases that signal a long-term presence, is proceeding, the Center for Strategic and International Studies confirms.

These installations serve not only as staging grounds for military operations but as hubs for psychological warfare too -- blending conventional and informational tactics in ways that are difficult to detect and profoundly destabilizing.

Central to Moscow's strategy is its ability to control the media narrative. RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik, Russia's state media arms, have significantly expanded their reach in Africa.

RT has signed content-sharing agreements with over 30 African broadcasters, according to an April 1 Reuters Institute report.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies notes, "Russia continues to be the primary purveyor of disinformation in Africa."

Sanctions, diplomatic isolation

Russia's media strategy is only one layer of its broader cultural and psychological push. The Kremlin now relies on influencers, bots and local content creators to spread its messaging, according to the Lansing Institute.

As public trust in traditional media erodes, Russian narratives are increasingly designed to feel homegrown. This policy results in a decentralized yet orchestrated campaign that merges entertainment with anti-Western sentiment and identity politics.

Among Russia's partners in Africa, Mali holds unique strategic importance.

Situated in the volatile Sahel region, Mali offers symbolic value and regional access. By embedding itself there, Russia taps into a broader corridor marked by Islamist insurgencies and the weakening of Western alliances.

Mali represents part of a global pivot.

As Moscow faces sanctions and diplomatic isolation from the West over its invasion of Ukraine, it is aggressively seeking influence in Africa. These ties provide not only economic lifelines but also diplomatic support in forums such as the United Nations.

More critically, Mali serves as a soft power beachhead. Through security support, media content and cultural engagement, Russia is presenting itself as a viable alternative to Western powers.

Mali is not alone. Russia employs similar tactics in other African countries.

In the Central African Republic, Wagner Group mercenaries have reportedly supported President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in exchange for access to diamond mines and political loyalty. In Sudan, Moscow continues to pursue a naval base deal on the Red Sea, seeking to maintain regional influence.