Former Wagner media operative lifts the lid on Russian disinformation in CAR
Journalist Ephrem Yalike was once an instrument of propaganda for the Wagner mercenary group in Bangui. Having secretly fled the Central African Republic a few months ago, he exposes the workings of Russia's disinformation campaign to RFI.
In March 2022, Ephrem Fidèle Yalike Ngonzo was sitting in the back of a 4x4 which suddenly veered off a road on the outskirts of the CAR's capital, Bangui, and plunged into the forest.
When it came to a stop, a white man named Michel drew a gun and warned Yalike: “I’m only going to repeat myself once. If you lie to me, I’ll kill you right here.”
This confrontation came two and a half years after Yalike began collaborating with Russia's information service in the CAR.
He had opted for a career as a journalist over the priesthood, studying law and international relations at the Bangui seminary and going on to work for news site Le Potentiel Centrafricain.
This pro-government publication covered events organised by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, which began operating in the CAR in early 2018.
Yalike’s journey into his collaboration with Moscow began when he received a mysterious phone call requesting a meeting at a local cafe. There he met Michel, who introduced himself as the "director of communications" for the Russian mission in the CAR.
At the time, the CAR was struggling to recover from the political crisis of 2013: after several years of instability, the Seleka rebellion had finally entered Bangui and toppled president François Bozizé, bringing down an already fragile state.
Read more on RFI English
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