North & West Africa

Mon, Jul 29, 2024

Fringe YouTube channels promote pro-Kremlin narratives in Africa

Channels attracted millions of views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers by using anti-Western content directed at African audiences

by Valentin Châtelet

Africa Cameroon

Tue, Jul 16, 2024

Fake Cameroonian news sites spread pro-Russia, anti-France content

Fake Cameroonian outlets disseminated AI-generated voiceovers across Facebook and other social media platforms

by Valentin Châtelet

Cameroon Disinformation
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023. (Source: Sputnik/Vladimir Astapkovich/Kremlin via Reuters)

Wed, Jun 12, 2024

In Sub-Saharan Africa, China embraces Russian messaging against Ukraine

Russian narratives thrive in Sub-Saharan Africa with the help of Chinese media networks, localization expertise, and infrastructure

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa Cameroon
SCREENCAP: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SPEAKS AT RUSSIA-AFRICA FORUM AT ST. PETERSBURG, SAYING RUSSIA IS READY TO USE REGIONAL CURRENCIES FOR SETTLEMENTS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Thu, Jul 27, 2023

Russian War Report: Kremlin seeks stronger ties in Africa as Wagner eyes Niger coup

As Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Russia-Africa Summit, he and his government are making moves to solidify regional cooperation. Amid this, Wagner seeks to capitalize on the coup in Niger.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Thu, Jun 29, 2023

The disinformation landscape in West Africa and beyond

A look at West Africa’s information environment, with particular emphasis on local and international disinformation campaigns targeting the region and beyond.

by Private: Tessa Knight, Private: Jean le Roux

Anti-NATO March in Paris, March 18, 2023.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023

Russia-friendly media outlets in Global South frame French anti-government protest as anti-NATO  

Russian state media coverage of protest in Paris picked up by outlets across the Global South

by Nika Aleksejeva, Valentin Châtelet

Cameroon China
Screenshot of an animated video produced by the Wagner Group showing soldiers fighting French 'zombies' in West Africa.

Fri, Jan 20, 2023

Russian War Report: Wagner Group fights French ‘zombies’ in cartoon propaganda

Plus, more on Wagner's power struggles with the Russian defense ministry and Russia's apparent use of incendiary munitions in Kherson.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Fri, Jul 8, 2022

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel linked to inauthentic Facebook assets from Côte d’Ivoire

Alleged NGO from Côte d’Ivoire ran inauthentic Facebook assets that promoted its expanding pro-Russia Telegram channel.

by Private: Tessa Knight

Africa Civil Society

Thu, Jul 7, 2022

Russian War Report: Ukraine uses HIMARS effectively to hit Russian ammo dumps

As Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) is keeping a close eye on Russia’s movements across the military, cyber, and information domains. With more than seven years of experience monitoring the situation in Ukraine—as well as Russia’s use of propaganda and disinformation to undermine the United States, NATO, and the European Union—the DFRLab’s global team presents the latest installment of the Russian War Report.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict CrowdTangle