Russian Houses and the Quiet Trafficking of Africa’s Youth into a Foreign War

By: Oumarou Sanou

What is unfolding across parts of Africa under the banner of cultural exchange is not diplomacy. It is not education. And it is certainly not benign soft power. It is a calculated, morally bankrupt system that exploits African vulnerability and converts cultural trust into military manpower for a war Africans neither started nor consented to fight.

Russia’s so-called cultural centres, branded as Russian Houses, have become part of a shadow infrastructure feeding Moscow’s war in Ukraine. They operate not as neutral spaces for language, literature, or artistic exchange, but as recruitment-adjacent nodes in a broader ecosystem of deception, labour exploitation, and ideological manipulation. For Africa, this should ring alarm bells far louder than they currently do.

Cultural diplomacy, in its classical sense, seeks to persuade, not conscript. It aims to shape perception, not bodies. Yet what investigations now reveal is a disturbing mutation: culture repurposed as camouflage, education as bait, opportunity as a trap. Young Africans are not being won over by ideas alone; they are being funnelled—sometimes coerced—into a war zone through a system that thrives on deniability and desperation.

The tragedy is not only that Africans are dying on foreign battlefields. It is that many never knew they were enlisting in a war at all.

Across Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and beyond, testimonies tell a consistent story. Men are promised jobs—mechanics, security guards, supermarket workers. Visas are arranged with suspicious ease. Travel is routed through familiar transit hubs. And once inside Russia, the script changes. Passports vanish. Military camps appear. Training begins. Protest becomes futile. Escape becomes a gamble with death.

This is not migration gone wrong. It is deception by design.

At the centre of this system sits Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian state agency overseeing Russian Houses worldwide. Unlike the British Council or Goethe-Institut, its operations follow an opaque franchising model, allowing private actors—including those linked to Russia’s security and mercenary ecosystem—to run cultural centres under a unified brand. The result is plausible deniability for Moscow and zero accountability for victims.

This model matters. It allows the Russian state to benefit strategically while evading responsibility politically. When things go wrong—and they do—it is always someone else’s fault: a local agent, a private company, a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, African families bury sons who left home seeking work, not war.

Even more troubling is how ideology and narrative conditioning are woven into this machinery. Russian Houses increasingly host militarised events, glorify Russia’s armed forces and normalise the Ukraine war as a civilisational struggle. They amplify Kremlin-aligned media while silencing dissent. These are not cultural spaces; they are echo chambers preparing minds—and sometimes bodies—for mobilisation.

Religion, too, has not been spared. The expansion of the Russian Orthodox Church’s African Exarchate, particularly in countries where Russian security influence is already present, adds another layer of concern. Faith-based engagement, theological training and church-sponsored labour projects have, in documented cases, intersected with recruitment and war-related labour pipelines. When spirituality becomes a corridor to coercion, the ethical collapse is complete.

What makes this especially dangerous is Africa’s structural vulnerability. High youth unemployment, weak labour protections, porous oversight of migration, and limited intelligence coordination create fertile ground for such operations. When survival becomes the priority, scrutiny becomes a luxury many cannot afford.

But Africa cannot afford this silence.

This is not about geopolitics alone. It is about sovereignty. It is about the value of African lives in a global system that too often treats them as expendable. It is about whether African governments will continue to look away while foreign powers exploit desperation under the cover of culture.

Regulation must replace naivety. Cultural centres should not operate without transparency, oversight and clear legal boundaries. Labour recruitment pathways must be scrutinised, especially those linked to conflict zones. Intelligence and immigration services must treat these networks not as isolated incidents but as a pattern that demands a coordinated response.

Most importantly, Africans must reclaim the narrative. Engagement with global powers should be grounded in dignity and mutual respect, not deception and disposability. Cultural exchange must never be allowed to become a conveyor belt to war.

From Dostoevsky to drone strikes, something has gone profoundly wrong. If Africa does not confront it now, the continent risks losing not just its youth, but its moral authority to protect them.

Oumarou Sanou is a social critic, Pan-African observer and researcher focusing on governance, security, and political transitions in the Sahel. He writes on geopolitics, regional stability, and African leadership dynamics. Contact: sanououmarou386@gmail.com

Steadily Expanding Institutional Opening-Up to Forge New Prospects of China-Nigeria Win-Win Cooperation

By: Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria

In October this year, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was convened in Beijing. The session reviewed and adopted the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, outlining a grand blueprint for China’s development over the next five years, pointing the way forward for Chinese modernization.

The session also laid out plans for improving the institutions and mechanisms for high-standard opening-up, explicitly putting forward “steadily expanding institutional opening-up”. Unlike the opening-up centered on the flow of goods and factors, institutional opening-up, as a hallmark of high-standard openness, focus more on rules, regulations, management, and standards. It is more comprehensive, systematic, and stable, representing a more advanced form of opening-up.

In recent years, the transformation of the global trading system has been accelerating. On one hand, trade in developed economies has weakened, while the Global South has become the main driver of global trade growth. On the other hand, the WTO-centered multilateral trading system has faced increasing challenges, and mega-free trade agreements promoted by developed economies have gained an advantage in reshaping global rules. These trends indicate that the global economic governance system is struggling to keep pace with an evolving landscape.

In this context, steadily advancing institutional opening-up will enhance China’s participation in the reform of global economic governance. By firmly supporting the WTO-centered multilateral trading system and steadily expanding institutional openness in rules, regulations, management, and standards, China will strengthen its leadership and agenda-setting influence in shaping international economic and trade rules. Meanwhile, China will also participate more comprehensively in WTO reform and the adjustment of global economic and trade rules, contributing more public goods to the world.

Since December 1, 2024, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 100% of products from all least developed countries (LDCs) with which it has diplomatic relations, covering 33 African nations. In June this year, China further extended this zero-tariff policy to include all 53 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with it. These measures reflect the consistent implementation of the principle of “mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” in guiding China-Africa relations and highlight China’s firm determination to adapt to the evolving international landscape and strengthen multilateral economic and trade relations.

Moreover, China’s zero-tariff policy toward African countries will help reshape the trade landscape between China and Africa, elevating Africa’s position in international trade and global supply chains. It will also support African nations in achieving industrial chain upgrading, moving beyond a “resource-export” economic model, and accelerating their industrialization and modernization, further illustrating the great significance of strengthening cooperation among Global South countries.

China and Nigeria share a long-standing and profound friendship. In recent years, bilateral relations between our two countries have grown rapidly. Last September, during the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Bola Tinubu in Beijing, the two heads of state elevated the China-Nigeria relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. China supports Nigeria in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and stands ready to strengthen coordination with Nigeria through multilateral mechanisms. Together, the two sides will advance solidarity and self-reliant development of the Global South, advance world multi-polarization and economic globalization, and contribute to a more just and equitable global governance system.

China is also willing to advance high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and work together with Nigeria to align the “Ten Partnership Actions” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” Agenda and his administration’s “Eight Priority Areas.” To further this goal, China also stands ready to implement the zero-tariff policy through the negotiation and signing of the Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development. Furthermore, China is willing to walk hand in hand with Nigeria on the path to modernization, strengthen strategic synergy, expand all-round cooperation, deliver more tangible outcomes, and serve the development needs of both countries.

Steadily Expanding Institutional Opening-Up to Forge New Prospects of China-Nigeria Win-Win Cooperation

With Civilization Exchange and Mutual Learning as the Brush, Paint a New Chapter of China-Nigeria Cooperation

By: Yu Dunhai

Every Wednesday at 5 p.m., the Lagos Coastal Highway is bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, while vendors in Abuja markets pack up their last baskets of okra. At that moment, a familiar radio signal cuts through the bustling streets, carrying greetings from “Nihao! China” into thousands of Nigerian homes. Produced jointly by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, “Nihao! China” radio program uses accessible language and vivid storytelling to bring the voice of China to Nigerian audiences, adding a vibrant chapter to the cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria.

China’s commitment to cultural exchange is also integrated into our national development plan. Recently, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee was successfully convened, adopting the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan. This session has not only charted a grand course for China’s forthcoming development, but also created fresh opportunities for China-Nigeria relations to deepen civilizational mutual learning, solidify cooperative foundations, and thereby inject more positive energy and stability into our currently turbulent world.

The Fourth Plenary Session clearly called for “ engaging in deeper exchanges and mutual learning with other cultures, carrying out extensive people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and encouraging efforts to build the presence of more cultural enterprises and fine cultural works on the world stage.” Rooted in China’s cultural practices, this vision reflects a profound understanding of the laws of civilizational development and closely aligns with the historical and cultural trajectories of both China and Nigeria. With a history stretching back over 5,000 years, Chinese civilization has not only thrived but has also cultivated a philosophy that “One should value not only one’s own culture, but also the cultures of others, and this will contribute to the flourishing of all cultures.” Similarly, with a rich history spanning millennia, Nigeria stands as a one of the cradle of African civilizations, nurturing the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and other cultures into a vibrant and symbiotic ecosystem. Despite the geographical distance, both China and Nigeria uphold cultural traditions that emphasize inclusiveness and harmonious coexistence. This shared ethos has laid a solid foundation for deepening exchanges and mutual learning between our two nations.

Cultural exchange has long been a vital part of the friendship between China and Nigeria. A series of co-organized events, including “Happy Chinese New Year,” “China-Nigeria Culture and Tourism Week,” “Mid-Autumn Festival Gala,” “China-Nigeria Film Festival,” and the “China-Nigeria Table Tennis Friendship Tournament”, have significantly enhanced mutual understanding and deepened the bonds of friendship between our peoples. Our cooperation has also fostered a bond through educational platforms: 15 “China Corners” have been established in public high schools in Abuja, two Confucius Institutes are operating at Nigerian universities, and the “Nihao! China” program has now reached an audience of over 7 million. Furthermore, the number of Nigerian students in China has exceeded 5,000 for consecutive years, and a growing number of Nigerian creators are gaining popularity on Chinese short-video platforms. Cultural exchange has truly become a key bridge in bringing the people of China and Nigeria closer together.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China is ready to work with Nigeria, leveraging the opportunity of the “2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” to establish a multi-level, broad-ranging, and regular cooperation mechanism, making civilizational mutual learning a robust engine for practical collaboration between our two nations. China will continue to encourage young people from both countries to participate in thematic activities such as academic exchanges, skills training, and startup incubation; promote stronger news and information sharing between our mainstream media outlets; and further enhance the “Nihao! China” program to better meet the Nigerian people’s interest in learning about China. China will also deepen exchanges and cooperation in the creative industries, with increased efforts in copyright cooperation and localized adaptation in sectors such as gaming, animation, and online literature. Through these measures, we will foster understanding via exchange and promote development through mutual learning, continuously promoting civilization exchange and mutual economic benefits between China and Nigeria.

There is a saying that civilizations flourish through exchange and grow richer through mutual learning. This idea is vividly reflected in the echoing voices of reading in the “China Corners,” in the joint cultural performances on stage, in the overseas studies of young Nigerians, in the heart-to-heart interactions among ordinary people, and in the shared opportunities and collaborative exploration emerging in the creative industries. These dynamic scenes fully illustrate how different civilizations can coexist harmoniously, support one another, and prosper together.

Standing at this new historical starting point, China is ready to join hands with Nigeria to jointly draw a new blueprint for bilateral cooperation through deeper civilizational dialogue and mutual learning. Together, we will further strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute even more to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Yu Dunhai is Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria

With Civilization Exchange and Mutual Learning as the Brush, Paint a New Chapter of China-Nigeria Cooperation