France and Russia’s escalating information war in africa

An overt and direct information conflict has intensified between France and Russia across the African continent. This particular aspect of hybrid warfare, spearheaded by Moscow in the wake of its 2018 intervention in the Central African Republic, is designed by Russia to undermine and ultimately dislodge Paris from its long-standing African positions. Russia aims to achieve this by leveraging and influencing public opinion for its own strategic benefit. Having belatedly recognized this tactic—a strategy the Russians have deployed in various operational theaters since at least 2014—Paris is now actively striving to retaliate with equivalent measures.

By Kadi Alhassane — Senior correspondent