Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, a Centrafrican journalist, has been denied asylum in France after exposing the inner workings of the Russian disinformation network linked to the Wagner Group. The decision came as a shock to his legal team, especially since he had been granted entry to France in 2024 through a special authorization facilitated by French authorities.

His lawyer condemned the refusal as a “deeply troubling signal” to those fighting against Russian propaganda operations in Africa. Yalike-Ngonzo’s revelations have already triggered European sanctions against key figures in Moscow’s influence campaigns in the region.

a perilous journey from whistleblower to refugee

Yalike-Ngonzo’s ordeal began in late 2019 when he was approached by operatives while working for multiple news outlets. He was paid between fifteen and thirty euros per article—nearly a quarter of his monthly salary—each time he published content favorable to the Central African military and its Russian allies.

After joining an investigative project in 2024 that exposed Russian influence operations across Africa, he faced death threats from Wagner operatives. Forced to flee his homeland, he sought refuge in France, where he continued to share critical insights into Moscow’s covert activities.

His testimony contributed to sanctions against Mikhail Prudnikov, a central figure in Russia’s propaganda machinery operating in the Central African Republic. Despite these high-profile consequences, French authorities have now rejected his asylum claim.

On July 9, 2025, his legal team filed an appeal with the National Asylum Court. The process could take up to a year, during which Yalike-Ngonzo remains in hiding in France with his family. Meanwhile, his relatives back in the Central African Republic face regular interrogations, pressured to disclose his whereabouts.