Pro-Russia X Accounts Tout Zuma’s South African Party, CIR Says
- Research shows possible bid to rally support for Zuma party
- As South African leader, Zuma forged closer ties with Russia
An analysis of accounts on social media platform X that have been used to promote Russian interests in South Africa are now being utilized to rally support for a new party backed by former President Jacob Zuma, according to a director at the Centre for Information Resilience.
The observation is the latest example of how Moscow appears to be using social media to try and sway the outcomes of votes around the world as it seeks to promote leaders that can help further its interests. Russia allegedly interfered in the US election in 2016, which saw social media being used to sow distrust in the process and institutions. More recent examples in Africa include support for pro-Russian military regimes in West Africa.