Whistleblower exposing Wagner’s crimes denied asylum in France
whistleblower exposing Wagner’s crimes denied asylum in France
key points A Central African journalist who exposed Wagner Group’s operations faces rejection of his asylum request in France, despite receiving a travel permit with Emmanuel Macron’s support.
The French government’s refusal to grant asylum to Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo sends a chilling message to those battling Russian disinformation campaigns, according to his legal representative. The journalist, who fled Central African Republic in 2024 after documenting Wagner’s propaganda network, had been granted special entry to France under Macron’s intervention.
Yalike-Ngonzo’s revelations about Moscow’s influence operations in Africa led to sanctions against key Russian operatives. His asylum denial came just days after he filed an appeal with France’s National Asylum Court, with a decision expected within a year. Meanwhile, the whistleblower remains in hiding with his family in France, while relatives in Central African Republic face intensified interrogations about his whereabouts.
From paid propagandist to persecuted truth-teller
In late 2019, Yalike-Ngonzo was approached by Wagner-linked networks while working as a journalist. He received payments between 15-30 euros per pro-government article—a quarter of his monthly salary at the time. The threats began after his 2024 testimony to an international investigation exposed Wagner’s systematic disinformation campaign in Central African Republic.
The journalist’s disclosures contributed to sanctions against Mikhail Prudnikov, a central figure in Russia’s African influence operations. His legal team argues the rejection undermines France’s commitment to protecting those who expose foreign interference in Africa.
As the asylum appeal process unfolds, Yalike-Ngonzo’s family in Central African Republic continues to endure pressure from authorities demanding information about his location.