When two Russians were arrested by Angolan authorities in Luanda in early August this year, the news barely made regional headlines. Yet, this action by the Angolan authorities raises deeper concern about how Russia and other foreign powers are slowly but surely shaping political outcomes across Africa using information campaigns, covert financing, and cultural diplomacy.
On August 7, 2025, Russians Lev Lakshtanov, 64, and Igor Racthin, 38, were detained on allegations of terrorist financing, falsifying documents, and criminal association, with investigators saying they were part of a wider network attempting to destabilise Angola’s democracy ahead of local elections.
According to information released by the Angolan officials, the pair entered the country on tourist visas but later posed as journalists, seeking meetings with political figures and conducting paid “opinion polls” on Russia’s image in Angola. Authorities contend that the information gathered was meant to fuel propaganda and sow mistrust among Angolans.
“They were not tourists, and they were not journalists. Their activities were political, designed to undermine public confidence in institutions,” one security source told local media about the two men reportedly linked to Africa Politology, a Russian network connected to the African Initiative, a Kremlin-backed media agency, and to the Africa Corps, considered a successor to the now-defunct Wagner Group, a mercenary Russian outfit.
A Wider Pattern Across the Continent
Sadly, the Angola case is not an isolated incident on the continent. In Mali, Sudan, the Central African Republic and Madagascar, Russia has been accused of using disinformation, fake media outlets, and strategic partnerships to shape political narratives and influence local decision-making.
Lakshtanov, one of the arrested men, once headed a St. Petersburg-based NGO called FAROL, officially focused on cultural cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola and Mozambique. Reports indicate that the organisation had ties to Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s state agency for cultural diplomacy.
And his alleged accomplice, Racthin, however, appears not to have any digital footprint, raising suspicion among analysts that “Igor Racthin” might be an alias.
“The recent arrest of two Russian nationals in Luanda on charges related to terrorist financing, falsification of documents, and criminal association should serve as a sobering reminder to all African nations of the growing sophistication of foreign interference on the continent. What once took the form of overt military or political intervention has evolved into subtle, multi-layered campaigns of influence targeting our media, institutions, and democratic processes,” said Gregory Chifire, a human rights defender, anti-corruption activist and legal Scholar.
“Africa today stands at a critical crossroads. As our democracies mature, the continent has become a strategic arena for global powers seeking to extend their influence under the guise of cooperation, cultural exchange, or development assistance.”
He said the case in Angola exposes a broader trend, where actors posing as journalists, consultants, or researchers exploit open societies to advance hidden agendas.
“Such practices threaten not only national security but also public confidence in democracy and governance. This should be a wake-up call for regional governments, including Zambia and other Southern African states, to strengthen oversight mechanisms on foreign-funded projects, information campaigns, and cross-border media operations,” Chifire said.
Implications for Southern Africa
For countries like Zambia, the arrests carry a warning. As the region prepares for a series of elections over the next two years, analysts say governments and civil society must remain alert to covert operations disguised as research, aid, or cultural exchange.
“While genuine partnerships that respect African sovereignty are welcome, covert operations that undermine trust in institutions and manipulate public opinion are unacceptable and must be firmly resisted,” Chifire said. “It Is imperative that Africa’s engagement with the international community be guided by transparency, mutual respect, and accountability. Governments must balance diplomatic cooperation with vigilance, ensuring that no foreign entity — whether from the East or the West — is allowed to compromise our sovereignty or dictate our political direction.”
He said the situation is not a question of geopolitical alignment but of self-determination.
“Africa must define its partnerships on its own terms and protect its citizens from being pawns in external power struggles. The arrests in Angola are not just a national issue; they are a continental warning that the new frontier of interference lies not in battlefields, but in minds and narratives,” said Chifire.
“Africa must respond with unity, awareness, and an unwavering commitment to democratic integrity.”
Foreign Influence, Local Consequences
In Luanda, residents say the arrests have revived questions about who truly benefits from foreign “partnerships”.
“Africa still remains a battle ground for foreign powers and that is why countries like Zambia are literally extensions of foreign entities as they do not own their economies and resources. During the 2021 elections, allegations of foreign interests in local elections surfaced including the Oppenheimer influence. We also heard allegations of the US military setting camp in Zambia,” said civil rights activist and musician Maiko Zulu.
“Foreign influence is also a sign of weak leadership on the continent as many African leaders have failed to leverage on the world stage despite owning the vast majority of critical resources.”
Across Africa, Moscow has relied on soft power tools – media projects, scholarships, and think tanks – to present itself as a friend of the continent. But experts warn that behind this cooperation lies a strategy of influence designed to challenge Western dominance while advancing Russian interests.
A Wake-Up Call for Africa
The August arrests in Angola may be just one episode in a broader continental trend. But for Africa’s emerging democracies like Zambia, this serves as a reminder that foreign interference has evolved and now influences narratives, perceptions, and trust.
“Thomas Sankara once said he who feeds you controls you. This includes the players in the civil society who are polarized due to the begging bowl syndrome which has resulted into a certain of donor funding with focal point organizations acting like colonial masters distributing foreign aid,” said Zulu.
“Foreign influence is a threat to Africa in whatever form, whether religion, economics, politics or culture and true patriots must stand up to it.”