PamelaTSep 9, 2023
I can understand that #panafricans are looking to keep Westerners out of #Africa, but frankly there's something I don't get: it seems that for them, the only alternative is #Russia.
Strange?
No.
This way please 🧵👇
1/10
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
2/10
If they don't want Westerners, though, there are other partners to turn to (Brazil, India, Turkey, ...) before resorting to Russian criminals.
Yet in anti-Western demonstrations in #Africa, you practically only see Russian flags.
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
3/10
Find me a demonstration in #Africa where people are waving a Turkish flag, for example. There aren't any.
Yet #Turkey keeps increasing its investments in #Africa and invests 3 times more than #Russia.
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
4/10
Moreover, #Turkey is one of #Africa's main partners for development aid.
Russia doesn't even feature in the chart.
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
5/10
Despite all this, not a single Turkish flag (or other #BRICS flag) in the demonstrations.
So what's it all about?
4 leads:
1. banning and dispersal of demonstrations hostile to the pro-Russian governments. Sometimes with machine guns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzHtGN290D8
Niger presidential guards fire warning shots against demonstrators | AFP

YouTube
Show threadPamelaT
6/10
2. Russian campaigns on social networks and elsewhere which include cartoons (https://twitter.com/SinedWarrior/status/1614547560785403906) you can't get any more #infantilising🤦. For the Russians, Africans must be treated like 14-year-olds.
🍓Sined Warrior🐭🍓 on X

1. Après l’episode ou la France est présentée comme un rat voleur, une nouvelle animation se propage sur les réseaux sociaux africains. Dans ce dessin animé, le groupe russe Wagner apparaît en sauveur du Mali et

X (formerly Twitter)
Sep 9, 2023 at 6:27pmWeb
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
7/10
3. Russian-trained and -financed influencers: https://twitter.com/alleyesonwagner/status/1642427664592957441
4. demonstrators sometimes paid: https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/afrique/1679495085-centrafrique-pres-de-200-manifestants-en-soutien-a-la-chine-et-la-russie
alleyesonwagner on X

[#WagnerLeaks] 🧵Kemi Seba, un des éléments de la stratégie d’influence de #Prigozhin - une enquête avec @jeune_afrique avec @AgenceCAPA @welt et @dossier_center https://t.co/0DX8fqtQTF

X (formerly Twitter)
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
8/10
But why is #Russia deploying so much energy to establish itself in #Africa?
4 clues:
1. natural resources. Russia (whether through #Wagner or not) is exploiting more and more fields (surprisingly, this is what Westerners are accused of doing 🤷).
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
9/10
2. take the wind out of the Westerners' sails.
3. create instability and tensions to sell more arms (it's already one of the main arms suppliers in Africa)
Show threadPamelaTSep 9, 2023
10/10
4. but in the end it's Nathalie Yamb herself who explains it best: Russia is instrumentalizing Africa to serve its own interests.