In a series of crudely produced propaganda cartoons circulated on the internet and through West African social media, France is portrayed as a predatory giant rat, a hoard of zombies and a gigantic cobra. All of these menaces are attacking righteous African Soldiers, with powerful Wagner Group Russian mercenaries coming to the Africans’ rescue.

At the end of one cartoon, a character says, “I hear that Ivory Coast also needs help.” Another cartoon begins with an evil Frenchman declaring, “Ivory Coast belongs to France!”

Russia makes no secret of its desire to expand its military influence into new parts of Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, formerly known as Ivory Coast. The Wagner Group has replaced France as the main foreign security force in the former French colonies of Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR). The Globe and Mail of Canada reports that Russia also is looking for possible deals to do the same in Burkina Faso, Chad and Guinea.

The real prize for Russian influence, however, would be Côte d’Ivoire, the fast-growing economic and trade hub that has evolved into a regional economic powerhouse. Companies are establishing their corporate headquarters there, particularly in the official economic capital of Abidjan, a key port city on Africa’s west coast.

Although there is no indication that Côte d’Ivoire has any interest in a partnership with Russia’s mercenaries, an unnamed source in the Ivoirian government told the Globe and Mail that Wagner is pushing for access to the country.

Russian-influence operations in Côte d’Ivoire, he told the newspaper, are underway. He cited the example of an Ivoirian man who was a former prisoner in Russia and volunteered to join a Wagner Group unit in Ukraine. His story was widely publicized in Russia. “The fact that Wagner presented him as a trophy — it shows that Côte d’Ivoire is one of their targets,” the official told the newspaper.