The refusal marks a troubling precedent for those fighting Russian disinformation, warns his legal team. Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo fled the Central African Republic in 2024 after documenting how Wagner’s paramilitary forces and allied media manipulated public opinion in his country. His revelations contributed to sanctions against a top Kremlin-linked propagandist operating in Bangui.

French authorities confirmed his asylum denial on July 10, despite a special entry permit personally authorized by President Macron. His legal team immediately filed an appeal with the National Asylum Court, with a final ruling not expected for at least twelve months. In the interim, he remains in hiding across France with his family, while relatives back home face relentless pressure from unknown actors seeking his whereabouts.

From paid propagandist to hunted dissident

In late 2019, Yalike-Ngonzo was approached by intermediaries while working for regional outlets. Between 15 and 30 euros—nearly a quarter of his monthly income—was paid per article whitewashing the Central African army and its Russian backers. His financial desperation mirrored that of many local journalists operating under severe constraints.

By 2024, he had become a key source for an international investigation exposing Russia’s covert influence campaigns in Africa. The revelations triggered swift retaliation. Threats from Wagner-linked operatives forced him into exile, where he publicly detailed the network’s tactics—training troll armies, weaponizing state media, and exploiting mineral wealth to fund destabilization.