Reporting on Putin’s Private Army in Africa

Philip Obaji Jr. has documented over a hundred atrocities committed by Russian mercenaries in Central Africa. In his Freedom Lecture, he will reflect on the dangers of exposing the truth in one of the most underreported regions of the world and discuss the broader Russian grip on Africa.

Russia has a strong presence in Central Africa. In the past through the Wagner mercenary group, and now through the Africa Corps. Russian soldiers fight rebels and secure natural resources. This is accompanied by atrocities at large scale against the local population. Women are victims of systematic sexual violence.

We know this in part thanks to the work of Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji Jr. For almost ten years, he has been investigating Russian activities in Africa, documenting over a hundred instances of abuse against local populations. At great personal risk: in 2024, Obaji was arrested and tortured by Russian mercenaries.

The humanitarian crimes committed can not be understood without the broader geopolitical context, Obaji stated: ‘I began by investigating human rights abuses, but now I’m seeing a relationship between this and issues around disinformation and political instability.’

In his Freedom Lecture, Obaji will reflect on the realities of reporting on armed conflict in Africa. Following the lecture, we’ll map the the murky networks of paramilitary groups and Russian influence in sub-Sahara Africa, and discuss the essential role of journalism in documenting the human rights abuses commited there.