Influenceurs pro-Russia in africa: kemi seba, nathalie yamb and allies

In the evolving geopolitical landscape of Africa, a network of prominent voices has emerged, actively aligning with Moscow’s strategic interests. At the forefront of this movement are influential figures such as Kemi Seba and Nathalie Yamb, who, alongside their allies, serve as key amplifiers of pro-Kremlin narratives across the continent.

Moscow’s strategic allies in Africa

The influential Russian oligarch Evgueni Prigojine, a close associate of Vladimir Poutine and financier of the Wagner Group, plays a central role in this network. Through organizations like the Afric (Association for Free Research and International Cooperation), led by Mozambican academic José Matemulane and presided over by Ioulia Afanasieva, a Prigojine associate, Moscow extends its reach across Africa. These structures facilitate pro-Russian propaganda and anti-Western rhetoric, often disseminated through media outlets such as Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV.

Afrique Média TV, based in Cameroon and owned by Justin B. Tagouh, has become a vocal platform for anti-French sentiments and pro-Russian stances. The channel frequently hosts figures like Banda Kani, leader of the Nouveau mouvement populaire, who has openly condemned Ukraine, labeling its government as a “criminal oligarchy.”

Kemi Seba’s controversial ties to Russia

The Franco-Béninois activist Kemi Seba, founder of the NGO Urgence panafricaniste, has cultivated close relationships with Russian nationalist ideologues. Notably, he has engaged with Aleksandr Douguine, a key architect of Russia’s multipolar world vision and a prominent anti-Western figure within Putin’s inner circle. Seba met with Vladimir Poutine in 2017 and again in early March 2022, where he also discussed African policy with Mikhaïl Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa and the Middle East.

During an appearance on Vox Africa in October 2020, Seba revealed that Evgueni Prigojine had invited him to Russia, Sudan, and Libya. However, he distanced himself from Prigojine after the oligarch allegedly urged him to escalate violent actions against Western symbols, even if it resulted in collateral damage in Africa. Despite this, Seba continues to promote pro-Kremlin narratives on social media.

Nathalie Yamb: the self-proclaimed “Dame de Sotchi”

Nathalie Yamb, a Swiss-Cameroonian activist and close associate of Kemi Seba, has positioned herself as a vocal critic of France and its allies in Africa. Known as the “Dame de Sotchi” after attending the Russia-Africa Summit in 2019, she was expelled from Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019 for her controversial statements. According to reports from the Free Russia Foundation, Yamb participated in a conference organized by Afric in Berlin, an event co-hosted with the Foundation for the Protection of National Values—a structure linked to Prigojine and directed by Alexander Malkevitch, a pro-Kremlin “journalist.” Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yamb has openly supported the Russian military.

Yamb is also affiliated with the Ivorian political party Lider, whose Twitter account frequently amplifies pro-Russian propaganda. Although the party’s founder, Mamadou Koulibaly, has officially retired from politics and remains inactive on social media, he visited Bamako in mid-March to support Mali’s pro-Russian junta. In an interview with Vox Africa, Koulibaly explained that he responded to an invitation from a Pan-African youth movement, emphasizing his desire to “violate the embargo and support the people and youth fighting for sovereignty.”

Pro-Russian networks in Mali and Central African Republic

In Mali, Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le cerveau,” serves as a leading voice advocating for Moscow’s presence. As spokesperson for the pro-Russian movement Yerewolo – Debout sur les remparts, he confirmed in September 2021 the ongoing negotiations between Wagner and the Malian government. Since late 2021, Diarra has organized most of the pro-Russian demonstrations in Bamako, where he claims that “fifty Russian military experts” have been deployed for over a month to provide strategic advice.

In the Central African Republic (CAR), Fred Krock, director of the widely followed radio station Lengo Songo, is a key media ally of the Kremlin. The station is reportedly fully funded by Lobaye Invest, a mining company linked to the Wagner Group and initially managed by Evgueni Khodotov, a Prigojine loyalist. Lengo Songo frequently amplifies pro-Russian narratives, featuring voices such as former Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, presidential advisor Valeri Zakharov, sociologist Maksim Shugaley, and Aleksandr Ivanov, head of the Community of Officers for International Security (Cosi).

Civil society figures like Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi and Harouna Douamba—both members of the pro-Touadéra “Galaxie nationale” platform—regularly organize pro-Russian demonstrations in Bangui. Douamba’s association “Aimons notre Afrique” is also funded by Lobaye Invest.

Pro-Russian propaganda in South Africa

Pro-Russian narratives also resonate strongly in South Africa, where social media amplifies Kremlin-aligned content. The Twitter account attributed to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, was among the first to popularize the #istandwithrussia hashtag, which has been shared hundreds of thousands of times. Most posts under this hashtag denounce NATO and Western imperialism.

As geopolitical tensions rise, these influencers and their networks continue to shape public opinion across Africa, serving as key conduits for pro-Kremlin messaging and strategic interests.