"Project Afrika": on the trail of Russian influence campaigns

France 24 (Français)State / PublicProgressive3 hr. ago

France 24 reports on a leaked document revealing Russia’s covert influence campaign in West and Central Africa through online media. The 'Project Afrika' initiative, operated by a Russian entity called 'The Company,' has published over 644 articles in at least 35 African outlets between June and November 2024, costing more than $300,000. These articles promote Russian interests, criticize France and Ukraine, and spread disinformation. France 24 investigated in Senegal, where local media like PressAfrik discovered their content was used without consent. The operation involves local intermediaries, including a Cameroonian journalist named Jérôme Ebossama, who denies involvement and claims the documents are fake.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the Russian influence operations as a deliberate attempt at manipulation and disinformation, highlighting the threat posed by foreign interference. It emphasizes the ethical concerns around media independence and the financial incentives driving such campaigns. While the report is

France 24 (Français)State / PublicProgressive6 hr. ago

France 24 reports on a leaked document revealing Russia’s covert campaign to influence West African and Central African media through propaganda and disinformation. The operation, known as 'Projet Afrika,' involved Russian-backed entities like Africa Politology, which operated under the alias 'The Company.' Between June and November 2024, over 644 articles were published across at least 35 media outlets, costing more than $300,000. The French broadcaster visited Senegal, where local journalists like Ibrahima Lissa Faye reported feeling manipulated by these efforts. The investigation was conducted with the help of pan-African media outlet The Continent and the journalism collective Forbidden Stories. One journalist, Jérôme Ebossama, denied involvement in the campaign, calling the documents 'fake' and claiming he was a victim of manipulation.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the Russian influence operations as a deliberate attempt to manipulate and undermine Western narratives, particularly those related to France and Ukraine. It emphasizes the strategic intent behind the campaigns and highlights the vulnerability of local media reliant on advertising

France 24 (English)State / PublicProgressive6 hr. ago

France 24 reports on a Russian propaganda operation called 'Project Afrika,' uncovered through leaked documents revealing the placement of hundreds of pro-Russian articles in African media outlets. The investigation, conducted in partnership with Forbidden Stories and other media outlets, highlights how Russian entities, including the Wagner Group and later Russia's secret services, have used local intermediaries to distribute disinformation across 35 media outlets in Central and West Africa. The operation, costing over $300,000, targets countries like Senegal and involves tactics such as ready-to-publish articles and exploiting media reliance on advertising revenue. Some journalists, like Cameroonian Jérôme Ebossama, dispute the claims, calling the documents fabricated.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the Russian influence operation as a deliberate attempt to manipulate opinion and spread disinformation, aligning with narratives critical of Russian foreign interference. It emphasizes the strategic and ideological goals of the campaign (anti-France, anti-Ukraine), portrays the '

France 24 (English)State / PublicProgressive7 hr. ago

France 24 reports on a Russian propaganda operation called 'Project Afrika,' uncovered through leaked documents revealing the deployment of 644 articles across 35 media outlets in Central and West Africa between June and November 2024. The operation, run by a Russian organization linked to the Wagner Group and later controlled by Russian intelligence, spent over $300,000 to influence narratives against France and Ukraine. The investigation focused on Senegal, where media outlets are vulnerable due to reliance on advertising revenue. Journalists identified intermediaries who facilitated the publication of pro-Russian content, with some refusing to comment on their alleged involvement.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Russian influence efforts as deliberate manipulation and disinformation, aligning with Western perspectives critical of Russian interference. It highlights anti-France and anti-Ukraine stances as part of a broader strategic agenda, suggesting a left-leaning critique of Russian heg