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November 24, 2024 | 10:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two years passed before 29-year-old journalist Fidèle Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo finally spoke up. Yalike is revealing his identity and his story to the world for the first time. A refugee from his native Central African Republic, the journalist described the inner workings of Russia's propaganda apparatus in Africa, as cited in a press release received by Tempo on Sunday, November 24. 2024.
It all started in 2022, when 'Forbidden Stories' launched the "Story Killers" initiative to study the deadly disinformation industry that operates around the world. One of the avenues of investigation that stuck out to the consortium's journalists was about Russian propaganda activities in Africa.
To delve deeper, a journalist from 'Forbidden Stories' and two colleagues from 'The Guardian' and 'Paper Trail Media' met privately with Ephrem Yalike in the autumn of 2022. In a hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, Yalike revealed that he worked for the Russians in Central African Republic. With evidence to back it up, he detailed how he directly engaged in the disinformation machine set up by guys from the Wagner Group to further Russia's objectives in the country.
Forbidden Stories stated that they would have to wait two years to make Yalike's revelations public, during which Yalike, afraid for his life, was pushed into hiding and eventually exile.
From 2019 to 2022, Yalike worked in complete secrecy to spread false information, promote anti-Western demonstrations, and fuel disputes in Moscow in favor of the Central African leadership and its supporters.
Forbidden Stories explained that if Yalike agreed to disclose his experience and the documentation supporting it, it was to criticize the actions in which he participated and expose the propaganda techniques he employed. Above all, Yalike wanted to expose the covert forces to which he had been a witness and later a victim.
“It is important for me to share this story so that justice can be done,” said Yalike as quoted from Associated Press. “To denounce the disrespect of human rights, and to expose the disinformation system which can be replicated in other countries.”
As the "little hand" of the shadowy advisors in Wagner's Bangui network, Yalike understood how perilous it was not to toe their line, let alone openly defy them.
"Staying in the Central African Republic and denouncing the system means risking your life," Yalike told reporters. "If you stand up for truths that go against their interests, they can strike you down."
At a time when Russia's influence continues to grow across Africa, Forbidden Stories stated that they believe it is critical to share Yalike's testimony.
As part of its study, Forbidden Stories and its allies spoke with journalists in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Those that responded did so anonymously and shared the same observation: a pervasive climate of fear and utter self-censorship on the topic of their safety.
"The Russians' presence has changed the way we process information," one of them admitted. "Journalists have been bought by the Russians via the junta to spread disinformation."
While propaganda in support of the dictatorship and its Moscow allies is widespread, Russian military and civilian activity are completely hidden.
“The Russians have succeeded in transforming the media landscape here,” said another journalist. “With their (…) information tracking, infiltration of groups on social networks, and targeting of the regime’s critics, everyone is afraid. No one dares to speak up, even on the phone, for fear of being bugged.”
As for journalists who once specialized in hunting "fake news," the risks they face today have forced them to stop their employment entirely.
'Preferred' Security Partner
Traditional allies like France and the United States have been replaced by Russia as the preferred security partner for an increasing number of African nations in recent years.
Since 2013, when then-president François Bozizé was overthrown by rebels, the Central African Republic has been embroiled in turmoil. It is among the first nations where Wagner mercenaries, supported by the Kremlin, set up shop with the promise of repressing rebel forces and restoring calm.
According to Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Russia continues to be the continent's main disinformation distributor, accounting for around 40% of all disinformation activities.
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