US propaganda in Africa has not been as effective as the Russian narrative, Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander of the US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM), said in congressional testimony.
"I would say Russia's narrative drowned out the US governments in the past years [...] They were excelling," Langley told the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
The United States needs to not only continue building up its military and security capacity but also double down in efforts to tell the "story of success" of the US Agency for International Development in Africa to push back on the Russian narrative, the commander added.
Langley also advocated more slots for African military partners in US military training programs, saying that this is also competition with Moscow.
"They’re beating us 12-to-1," he pointed out.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the closing ceremony of the World Youth Festival, said that the Western countries' attitude towards the continent is unfair and that everything must be done to change the current situation.
In late January, the Russian embassy in Côte d'Ivoire said that the United States was increasing its presence in West African countries to fill the gaps left by French forces there.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a tour of African nations that Washington would spend $45 million to "ensure stability" in the region.