Russia continues to strengthen its ties with African countries, and the continent offers new opportunities to send officials who can no longer be sent to Western missions, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service writes in its 2026 yearbook.
The report states that the Kremlin is diversifying its activities on the continent and that preparations are underway for the third Russia-Africa summit in 2026.
In addition to traditional military cooperation, Moscow is increasingly interested in promoting soft power, such as education and culture. More and more African students are studying at Russian universities, and agreements have been signed with Chad, Eritrea, Djibouti and Guinea.
“The growing importance of Africa for Russia will continue in the short term. Russia will continue its efforts to deepen cooperation with African countries,” the yearbook states.
This cooperation will also help “resolve domestic issues.”
“Where to place civil servants who can no longer be sent to Western countries, such as diplomats, intelligence officers, cultural figures, and influential agents,” the agency said.
Many Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western governments over the past decade due to Russia’s covert activities and the war in Ukraine. The embassy was also closed.
“Russian federal agency Rossotoldnichestvo, the central figure in Russian influence operations, is becoming increasingly active in Africa, opening offices in countries such as Guinea and Burkina Faso, among others. Additionally, the Russky Mir Foundation, which promotes the Russian language abroad, is expanding by opening new centers in Burundi and Uganda,” the report states.
Moscow is trying to convince Africans of its narrative and promote anti-Western talking points.
This includes claims that Western influence and cooperation in Africa is “neo-colonial, unjust and patronizing.” Russia claims to be a “defender of a truly multipolar world order and a defender of sovereignty, offering cooperation on the basis of equal partnership.”
“Educational and cultural propaganda is an effective tool for shaping the attitudes of the next generation in a more pro-Russian direction,” the agency said.
African students sent to the front lines
In 2025, approximately 35,000 African students enrolled in Russian universities.
But the agency said the Russian Ministry of Defense sent the students “to the front lines in Ukraine to die”, undermining “existing friendly relations”.
“Some families have not received compensation and embassies have not been informed of the deaths. Hundreds of nationals from Zambia, Tanzania, Guinea, Cameroon, Eritrea, Nigeria and other states are being sent to the war in Ukraine,” the yearbook states.
According to the agency, African embassies in Moscow have repeatedly stressed the need to raise awareness of the threat among students arriving in Russia, but scholarships are scarce and students need to earn additional money to cover living expenses.
“Russian authorities are exploiting this vulnerability by detaining Africans working in Russia and denying them extensions to their residence permits. These students are being forced to choose between deportation and military service. Hundreds of Africans who refused to participate in the war have since been deported,” the report said.
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