Russia to open more cultural centres in Africa as it seeks to broaden influence
These centres will promote the Russian language, education, science and culture.
Russia plans to expand its cultural centres across Africa as it works to widen its influence
Some "Russian Houses" already operate in Africa, including in important allies such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger
Russia is enlarging its network of cultural and educational centres in Africa as it seeks to deepen ties beyond military and security cooperation on the continent.
According to Russia's humanitarian agency, the centres will advance the Russian language, education, science and culture, while also backing a range of projects.
Called "Russian Houses", eight of the 11 new centres are set to open in Africa, where 16 have already been established over the years.
Russia's state-controlled paramilitary force African Corps, which took over the Wagner Group's mercenary operations, has become an important security partner for several military governments in West Africa in the battle against jihadist insurgencies.
The juntas in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in particular turned to the Russian mercenaries, now Africa Corps, as they tried to break away from the influence of their former colonial ruler France.
French and other international anti-jihadist forces have pulled out of these countries, including the UN mission in Mali, which ended in December 2023.
This year has also brought a rise in the reported number of African fighters drawn into the Russia-Ukraine war. Kenya, which has recorded some of the highest recruitment numbers, accused job agencies of enticing men to Russia with promises of work, only for them to end up fighting in Ukraine.
Russia has said all of its foreign recruits joined voluntarily "in full compliance with Russian law" - but agreed in March not to send Kenyans to the front.
Russia now wants to build longer-term ties through scholarships, universities, language programmes, cultural events and exchanges, according to Rossotrudnichestvo, its humanitarian agency.
"We're significantly changing the programme itself. We're increasing the intensity of our work and the level of oversight," said Igor Chaika, the head of Rossotrudnichestvo.
The new centres are scheduled to open in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Chaika added that Russia was seeking "tangible results" in promoting "the Russian language, Russian education, science, and culture".
Rossotrudnichestvo said a new micro-grant programme would start in 2027 to support educational, cultural, scientific, technological and youth projects abroad.
The agency also wants stronger partner organisations to run the Russian Houses in different African countries, creating what it called a "full-fledged international network".
It added that demand for partner Russian Houses had been increasing, including from countries where the work of state institutions faced political restrictions.
The announcement covers 11 more sites, including two in Armenia, as well as locations in Thailand and eight African countries.
Chaika said they were especially focused on refining the education programmes on offer: "We must focus on who the country needs.
"If it needs doctors, we should train doctors; if it needs specialists in other fields, we should train those specialists."
He also emphasised the importance of foreign students returning home after studying in Russia, saying they could use their newly acquired skills to help drive the economic development of their countries.
To support this expansion, Rossotrudnichestvo said it had signed a separate agreement with the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries (AECAS).
This is a Russia-Africa trade and business networking body established by Russia's President Vladimir Putin in 2020 - part of wider Russian efforts to preserve and develop ties with countries outside the West.