His legal counsel describes this decision as an “extremely negative signal” to anyone striving to combat Russian propaganda. Since 2024, Centrafrican journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo had sought sanctuary in France, following his courageous revelations about the intricate Russian disinformation network orchestrated by the Wagner paramilitary group. Although he secured a special pass enabling his entry into French territory, his application for asylum was formally rejected this past Friday, July 10.

The journalist faces death threats

Yalike-Ngonzo’s involvement began in late 2019. While contributing to various publications, he was approached and compensated between fifteen and thirty euros per article – approximately a quarter of his monthly income – for publishing content favorable to the Centrafrican army and its Russian allies.

This whistleblower publicly shared his insights in 2024, contributing to a Forbidden Stories investigation into Russian influence operations across Africa. Facing credible death threats from the Wagner Group, he had been forced to flee his homeland shortly before. Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo’s disclosures proved impactful, leading to European Union sanctions against Mikhail Prudnikov, identified as a key architect of Moscow’s propaganda efforts within the Central African Republic.

An appeal was lodged with the National Asylum Court this Thursday, July 9, with a ruling potentially taking up to a year. Meanwhile, Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo and his family remain in hiding within France. His relatives who stayed behind in the Central African Republic are reportedly subjected to frequent questioning, pressured to disclose his whereabouts.