Russian Disinformation Methods in the Central African Republic

Recruited by a Russian agent to push pro-Russia propaganda in the Central African Republic (CAR), journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo blew the whistle from exile on information manipulation and brutal intimidation by a secret network linked to Russia. Yalike-Ngonzo became a key witness to Moscow’s system of disinformation in CAR, where he witnessed and took part in suppressing the opposition’s voice, praising Russia’s presence, and covering up abuses committed by the Wagner mercenary group.

“It is important for me to share this story so that justice can be done,” Yalike-Ngonzo told the Associated Press in an interview. “To denounce the disrespect of human rights, and to expose the disinformation system which can be replicated in other countries.”

For over two years, PPLAAF worked with Forbidden Stories to help Yalike-Ngonzo testify safely on the methods employed by an “unofficial Russian organisation” called ‘African Politology’. Following interrogation and fearing for his safety, Yalike-Ngonzo and his family were forced to flee CAR with PPLAAF’s support. In November 2024, the Forbidden Stories investigation revealed the depths of the misinformation campaign.

Russia’s Involvement in CAR

Russia’s Wagner Group has been present in CAR since 2018, with the narrative pushed by both Moscow and CAR’s President Touadéra that it works to support and protect Central Africans against rebel groups. Since independence from France in 1960, CAR has battled six coups and a gruesome civil war breaking out in late 2012. As a result, although CAR has a prolific wealth in natural resources, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world, battling instability, violence, and displacement.

Russia’s presence in CAR came shortly after the withdrawal of French forces from CAR in 2016. According to the BBC, critics accuse the government of exchanging military support for “exploiting the country’s resources”. Since entering CAR in 2018, Wagner’s subsidiaries have won contracts allowing them to operate numerous gold and diamond mines. Significantly, Russia has also been accused of serious human rights abuses in CAR, including torture, predominantly targeting civilians perceived to be close to rebel groups.

Although Wagner’s presence stretches across Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, their biggest presence remains within CAR. In December 2024, a monument of Wagner’s late leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was erected in Bangui, CAR’s capital city.

Along with their military presence, Russia has further developed and entrenched an extensive disinformation system in CAR, revealed by whistleblower Yalike-Ngonzo. At the heart of this disinformation machine and Yalike-Ngonzo’s experience is Russian propaganda organisation Africa Politology.

A Cog in the Disinformation Machine

In November 2019, Yalike-Ngonzo was approached by a young Russian and his translator. The Russian, introducing himself as “Micha”, offered Yalike-Ngonzo the relatively profitable opportunity of publishing communication in favour of the CAR army and the Wagner Group. Per article, the payment promised far surpassed the going-rate for journalists in CAR.

Forbidden Stories subsequently identified Micha as Mikhaïl Mikhaïlovitch Prudnikov, a central figure in Africa Politology with direct links to Yevgeny Prigozhin’s networks. According to the US treasury as cited by Forbidden Stories, Africa Politology is said to develop “strategies and mechanisms to induce Western countries to withdraw their presence in Africa and is involved in a series of Russian influence tasks in the Central African Republic.” Prudnikov has held several positions within the structure, first participating in disinformation operations in Africa in Sudan, and subsequently being appointed head of media management in CAR.

Photographs of Mikhail Prudnikov in November 2022 and May 2023 in the Central African Republic posted on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy (from the Forbidden Stories article).

Unaware of Micha’s true intentions, Yalike-Ngonzo accepted the proposal; he explained to the Associated Press: “I thought I was contributing to bringing back peace in the country.” he began publishing “false news articles” promoting Russia and the Wagner Group. However, after a few months, he was asked to take a more active role in the disinformation campaign. On top of denying anything negative said about Russia’s presence, he began writing articles “denying the truthfulness of everything said by opponents or critical voices,” paying other journalists about 15 USD to spread these stories in local papers while also publishing them on his blog.

Other tasks undertaken by Yalike-Ngonzo included praising and promoting Wagner mercenaries and supplying radio stations with “experts ready to support” the regime and its Russian partners. Micha further instructed Yalike-Ngonzo to organise fake anti-Western and pro-Russian demonstrations in front of embassies and in front of the MINUSCA, the United Nations mission in CAR. Posted online and written about in articles, these fake protests would foster the idea that Central African citizens supported the Russians.

Yalike-Ngonzo explained to Forbidden Stories, “they wanted to let people know by any means necessary – namely via the airwaves of the radio station Lengo Songo – that the broader population was for it.”

Escaping to Safety

“I realised it was against my conscience,” Yalike-Ngonzo told the Associated Press

At the end of February 2022, Micha asked Yalike-Ngonzo to join him in Bouar to write an article about rebel groups allegedly committing atrocities against the local population – the article was to describe an armed confrontation between rebels and Fulani herders.

Yalike-Ngonzo had doubts about the veracity of the facts and Micha admitted the Russians were the ones to have accidentally attacked the herders. He proceeded to write the article, citing that the mercenaries had looked after the two wounded herders. However, a month later, the story was covered in another newspaper with a full-page spread on the real role of the Russian mercenaries.

Yalike-Ngonzo was immediately accused of leaking the news. Suspicious of him, Micha took him out into a forest and threatened to kill him. After finding no compromising evidence on his phone, he drove off and left Yalike-Ngonzo on the side of the road. Fearing for his life, he decided to flee CAR and blow the whistle.

“In that moment, I wanted to leave, but couldn’t […] Why? Because Micha told me that […] wherever I went, they’d have control over me.”

After a series of hurdles, including an arrest at Bangui’s airport and crossing the Ubangui River to the DRC, Yalike-Ngonzo and his family are now safe but remain in hiding.

Although the Wagner Group remains firmly present in CAR, the methods they have “tested and approved” there have been replicated elsewhere in Africa, with others like Yalike-Ngonzo being used and controlled to manipulate public opinion.

About PPLAAF

PPLAAF is a non-governmental organisation established in 2017 to protect whistleblowers, as well as to advocate and engage in strategic litigation on their behalf when their revelations deal with the general interests of African citizens.