Russia expanding propaganda network in Africa under guise of fighting disinformation

According to Ukrinform, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council reported this on Facebook.

It has been revealed that more than ten experts from African countries have joined the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), an organization controlled by Russia, whose activities the CCD has previously reported on.

"Russia presents this organization's activities as a fight against disinformation. In reality, it was created under the auspices of TASS, one of the Kremlin's main propaganda outlets," the CCD said in its statement.

The center stressed that the primary goal of this "fact-checking" is to legitimize Russian disinformation for foreign audiences.

"This is how Russia tries to portray itself as a 'fighter against fake news,' while in fact, spreading disinformation is an integral part of its state policy. By engaging African journalists and political analysts, the Kremlin is building an influence network capable of promoting its preferred worldview far beyond Russia's borders," the CCD said.

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