Why are more young Africans learning Russian?

Russia has been trying to grow its influence in Africa for years, with Russian paramilitary groups operating in countries such as Mali and Niger and Africans being recruited to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But it’s not just through soldiers and paramilitaries - Russia has now announced plans to open eight new cultural centres across Africa. The new centres are expected to open in countries such as Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, and they will offer locals the opportunity to learn Russian, find out about Russian culture, and get help applying to study there.

So, why is Russia opening more of them? And are more young Africans interested in learning Russian?

The BBC’s West Africa Reporter Makuochi Okafor explains why Russia is keen to build more influence on the continent - and the other countries it’s competing with. We also hear from Raphael, a student based in Lagos who’s learning Russian, about whether he’s seen more people wanting to learn the language.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Chelsea Coates and William Lee Adams
Editor: Verity Wilde