Russia Places Hundreds of Anti-Ukrainian Articles in French-Speaking Media of West Africa - France 24
A new investigation by France 24 Observer reveals that Russia has placed hundreds of anti-Ukrainian articles in French-speaking media across West Africa. This conclusion stems from an analysis of leaked confidential documents concerning the activities of Russian agents on the African continent.
According to a recent investigation conducted by France 24 Observer, Russia has strategically positioned hundreds of anti-Ukrainian articles within French-speaking media outlets in West Africa. This finding is based on an extensive analysis of leaked confidential documents that detail the operations of Russian agents throughout the African continent.
The leaked documents comprise 1,431 pages of internal materials from what is referred to as the 'Company'—a network of 90 agents actively operating in Africa. Initially led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military company Wagner, the 'Company' has since come under the control of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service following Prigozhin's death in 2023.
The list of articles included in these documents spans nearly 80 pages, detailing dozens of media outlets located in various African countries. According to the analysis, from June to October 2024, approximately 650 unique articles were published across 35 West African media outlets, featuring anti-Ukrainian, anti-French, pro-Russian, and pro-AES (Alliance of Sahel States) narratives. The cost of placing each article ranged from $250 to $700.
These publications appeared in a variety of media, from news websites that previously had close ties to Russia to reputable news organizations and platforms with large audiences. The countries affected include Senegal, Chad, and Togo.
The analysis revealed that more than 20 media outlets published at least ten articles from the 'Company' during the specified period. The majority of the materials focused on regional news and exhibited bias against the West and Ukraine.
Additionally, the media also disseminated fake news as part of Russian influence campaigns. For instance, articles circulated claiming that recruitment posters for the Ukrainian army were allegedly placed by the Ukrainian embassy on the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Among the most active media outlets publishing materials from the 'Company' is AfriqueMedia.tv—a pan-African publication based in Cameroon, known for its close ties to Russia. This outlet boasts over 1.2 million followers on Facebook and published 125 articles in both French and English during the specified timeframe.
The Malian news site Bamada.net, which sources content from Russian media, published 32 articles accusing Ukraine and France of destabilizing the AES through military support for opposition groups in Mali and Niger.
According to the analyzed documents, the 'Company' reportedly spent $16,000 on article placements on Bamada.net and $31,250 on Afrique Média. However, it remains difficult to ascertain whether these amounts were actually paid, and if so, who specifically benefited from them.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian Orthodox Church has been actively expanding its presence in Africa—growing from 4 to 34 countries in less than three years. This indicates an increasing interest from Russia in the African continent and its ambitions to strengthen influence in the region.
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