French asylum denied to whistleblower exposing Wagner in Central African Republic
French asylum denied to whistleblower exposing Wagner in Central African Republic
Centrafrican journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo’s asylum plea in France was denied after he exposed Wagner Group’s operations. He had been granted entry via a special pass at Emmanuel Macron’s request in 2024.
French authorities have rejected the asylum application of Centrafrican journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, who risked everything by exposing the Kremlin’s disinformation networks linked to the Wagner Group. His legal team calls the decision a “deeply concerning signal” for those fighting Russian propaganda.
Since 2024, Yalike-Ngonzo had been living in France under a special entry permit after his life was threatened in the Central African Republic for revealing Moscow’s covert influence operations. The decision to deny his asylum comes despite his critical role in uncovering Wagner’s propaganda machine, which led to European sanctions against key Russian operatives in Bangui.
Death threats and forced exile
In late 2019, Yalike-Ngonzo was approached by Russian operatives while working for local media outlets. He received payments of 15 to 30 euros per article—about a quarter of his monthly salary—promoting the Central African government and its Russian allies. His decision to expose these operations in a 2024 investigative report triggered death threats from Wagner operatives, forcing him into immediate exile.
On July 9, his legal team filed an appeal with the National Asylum Court. The process could take up to a year. Meanwhile, Yalike-Ngonzo remains in hiding in France with his family, while his relatives in the Central African Republic face repeated interrogations, pressured to disclose his whereabouts.