(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Africa has become one of the most contested arenas in the global struggle for influence, with disinformation emerging as a central tool used by major powers to shape public opinion, weaken trust and advance strategic interests. Analysts say the continent is no longer just a stage for economic or military competition, but a key battleground in information warfare driven by technology, coordinated messaging and historical grievances.
Experts warn that artificial intelligence, fake online accounts and fabricated experts are increasingly being used to distort reality across African societies. These campaigns exploit poverty, unresolved conflicts and distrust rooted in colonial history. The result is rising social tension, declining confidence in institutions and confusion over global events, including Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Anna Masłoń Oracz, an expert on Afro European relations at the Warsaw School of Economics, says Russia and China are currently the most active external actors shaping disinformation narratives across Africa. While other global players such as the United States, Turkey, the European Union and international organisations remain influential, they do not rely on disinformation to the same extent or in the same coordinated way.
According to Masłoń Oracz, Russian doctrine has long treated information as a battlefield in its own right. For many years, Moscow has invested heavily in shaping perceptions abroad as a means of advancing political and strategic goals. This approach has intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Africa becoming a key focus of these efforts.
One of the most visible examples is the Central African Republic, where Russian military influence has been combined with sustained information campaigns. Russian affiliated armed groups have been portrayed as protectors and stabilisers in local media and popular culture, including cartoons and social messaging. In countries affected by decades of conflict, such narratives can gain traction among populations desperate for security and stability.
At the same time, analysts say Russia has drawn on these same environments to recruit African nationals for its war against Ukraine. Promises of peace, opportunity and partnership are often paired with recruitment efforts that target vulnerable communities, particularly young people with limited economic prospects.
Africa has the youngest population in the world, and this demographic reality makes the continent especially vulnerable to manipulation. Experts note that for many teenagers and young adults, offers of food, income, education and a better life can outweigh abstract concerns about geopolitics. Russia, in particular, is seen as adept at exploiting these vulnerabilities through carefully crafted narratives.
China has also expanded its influence across Africa, though its approach differs in style. It focuses more on economic development, infrastructure and prosperity narratives, while still using information control and messaging to reinforce its image as a reliable partner. Together, Russia and China often frame themselves as alternatives to Western powers, promoting messages centred on anti colonialism and resistance to Western dominance.
Western influence, particularly that of France, has declined sharply in parts of West and Central Africa. Analysts argue that historical grievances linked to colonial rule have been effectively amplified by Russian and Chinese narratives. These campaigns emphasise past exploitation and present Western engagement as self serving, while portraying Moscow and Beijing as partners free from colonial baggage.
The effects of disinformation extend beyond politics and security. In Kenya, authorities estimate that around 200 citizens have fought or are still fighting on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine. Many were recruited through job advertisements promising work in Russia as security guards or labourers, with monthly salaries ranging from USD 1,500 to USD 7,000. Several later reported deception and coercion, raising concerns that recruitment amounted to human trafficking.
Ukrainian officials estimate that more than 1,400 fighters from 36 African countries are serving with the Russian army. Despite this, Russia’s actions in Ukraine are often poorly understood across parts of Africa, where local media coverage may lack historical context and where Russia retains a generally positive image due to its past support for independence movements.
Rwanda’s experience highlights the real world dangers of disinformation. The country’s 1994 genocide was fuelled in part by manipulated media and false narratives that promoted division and violence. Rwandan officials stress that disinformation is not merely an online problem, but a societal one with potentially devastating consequences.
Anastase Shyaka, Rwanda’s ambassador to Poland, says the country’s recovery has depended on long term reconciliation, local ownership of solutions and resilience building. She emphasises that unity, accountability and citizen participation are essential in countering the effects of disinformation, especially in post conflict societies.
Across Africa, experts agree that disinformation is now a strategic weapon rather than background noise.
