Russia expands influence in Sahel through network of proxies and paid media - intelligence
Kyiv • UNN
Russia uses a network of proxy structures to recruit agents and place hundreds of sponsored materials in the Sahel. The goal is geopolitical influence in the region.
Russia uses a network of proxy structures to strengthen its influence in the Sahel countries. These operations aim to form an anti-Western belt in Africa through media, politicians, and opinion leaders. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, according to UNN.
Details
Moscow is turning the Sahel into a springboard for geopolitical influence. According to an investigation by the French organization Forbidden Stories, the operations are carried out by the proxy network The Company, linked to Russia's foreign intelligence service. The ultimate goal is to form an anti-Western belt from Guinea on the Atlantic to Sudan on the Red Sea, encompassing Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and Togo.
According to preliminary data, from June to October 2024 alone, the network recruited 11 agents and placed over 700 commissioned materials in the media. The cost of one publication ranged from $250 to $700. Mali has been identified as a priority operational hub in the region.
The key tool is direct funding of editorial offices in exchange for content that mimics independent journalism. In November 2024, CAR journalist E. Yalike exposed a payment scheme – about $52 per material – and after refusing to cooperate, received threats and was forced to leave the country. In March 2025, Chad's judicial police detained Radio France Internationale correspondent O. Monodji and three local colleagues for publishing paid texts ($87–350 per article). In July, however, the case was closed, classifying the actions as a "good faith error" due to manipulation by Russian handlers.
In parallel, the network funds the recruitment of local opinion leaders and officials. In Togo, contacts with local figures cost almost $5,500 – shortly after, the country concluded a military agreement with Russia on personnel training and access to port infrastructure. The coordination of operations is covered by structures like the "Russian House," operating under the guise of cultural exchange.
Recall
Russian propaganda spread 2.5 thousand publications about the demand for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to leave Donbas. Disinformation accounts for 66% of all foreign mentions of Ukraine per day.