Tracking Russian Interference to Derail Democracy in Africa

The focus in recent years has increasingly turned towards the erosion of democratic values in Africa, with Freedom House reporting a decline in democracy scores in 31 African nations over the last five years. What often goes unnoticed, however, is the significant role played by external authoritarian actors in facilitating this decline, with Russia being particularly noteworthy in this aspect. For the past two decades, undermining democracy has been a strategic objective within Russia's Africa policy. This is further perpetuated by authoritarian governments lacking internal checks and balances, providing fertile ground for Russian influence in Africa. Moreover, Russia's disruption of democratic processes occurs through both official and irregular means, including actions like blocking UN resolutions condemning human rights abuses by African regimes and engaging in disinformation campaigns to target democratic proponents and interfere in elections. These interventions are often intentionally shrouded in secrecy, making it challenging to gauge the full extent of Russian involvement. Nevertheless, the extensive efforts by Russia to destabilize democracy in Africa are undeniable, with at least one of these intervention methods being actively employed in 23 African countries across the continent. Unfortunately, these interventions have detrimental effects, thwarting the desires of approximately three-quarters of African citizens who aspire to witness flourishing democracies in their respective nations. Consequently, this weakens African voices, sovereignty, and the right to self-determination.