France Uncovers AI-Powered Russian Influence Campaign in Africa

A covert Russian influence campaign used AI-generated posts to target French-speaking audiences in Africa, according to France’s Viginum agency, which combats disinformation. The effort, allegedly tied to Moscow and the African Initiative—a Russian news outlet operating on the continent—used deceptive media tactics, including AI-crafted text, images, and videos. These posts, often on neutral topics like music and sports, aimed to attract credibility and online traffic. The campaign appears to be part of a broader post-Wagner reorganization of Russia’s information strategy in Africa, now increasingly centralized and state-driven. Though the disinformation effort saw limited traction, its use of AI tools and pseudo-news platforms highlights a growing digital threat in Russia’s bid to expand its soft power in former French colonies.

LeMonde