The quiet occupation of the continent: in West Africa "Boom" on the flags of the Russian Federation - the media

It has become the most prominent feature of a broad geopolitical shift in the region, along with Russian weapons and mercenaries. "The Russian flag has become a symbol of resistance in Western Africa, associated with anti -Western and anti -French sentiment," said Kyle Walter, a Logic Research, a technological company that tracked the growth of pro -Russian and anti -French sentiment.

Analysts and some Western diplomats that monitor the origin of flags are convinced that the Russian government has financed their spread to increase its influence. Ahmed Bello, President of the Nigerian NGO Parade, said he distributed up to 70 Russian flags on each protest in Name, and that his work was funded by the Russian government through intermediaries who conducted similar operations in Mali.

"It is with them that we are working on the development of Russian ideology expansion in Africa," he said. However, for some, the Russian flag has turned into a way to make a political statement.

"Russia is perceived by many young Africans as an anti -colonial state, designed to help them get rid of the colonial past and write a new section of national history that has nothing to do with democracy, which is associated with many in operation with Western countries, corruption and poverty," the author writes. material.

Similar phenomena are also observed in neighboring Burkin-Faso and Mali, where military governments have seized power as a result of coups in recent years, and then united with Russia for military cooperation. We will remind, on September 25 it was reported that France decided to withdraw troops and ambassadors from Niger. Immediately after the overthrow of the President in Niger, the junta put forward an ultimatum of France with the withdrawal of troops.