The bear and the bot farm: Implications of Russian hybrid operations in Africa

Russia has made significant inroads in Africa—particularly in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic and Mali—deploying military operations that, while limited in scope, are often devastating for local civilian populations. At the same time, Moscow has developed a powerful propaganda machine that taps into existing antipathy towards Europe, particularly France, to push African governments closer to its foreign policy objectives.

In this session, speakers will unpack findings and policy implications from the report, “The bear and the bot farm: Countering Russian hybrid warfare in Africa”, and discuss developments in the field, including the recent jihadist blockade of Bamako and consequences for African peace and security of a ceasefire in Ukraine.