Russia's lies helped persuade Niger to eject US troops, AFRICOM says
The U.S. needs to beef up its own counter-disinformation efforts, Gen. Langley tells lawmakers.
PATRICK TUCKER | MARCH 21, 2024 06:35 PM ET
Why did Niger, a country the United States considered a safe ally in Africa just last year, suddenly elect to kick the U.S. military out of the country following a coup? Russian disinformation efforts in the region played a huge role, according to Gen. Michael Langley, the head of U.S. Africa Command.
“The Russian Federation had their playbook. They had their passing game through their disinformation,” he told the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “That’s why I have asked for more capabilities in the State Department from their Global Engagement Center and also in our information operations in the military.”
One example of just how quick and aggressive Russian disinformation actors are in the region: last April, Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group buried several bodies near a base French forces had just occupied—so the Russians could launch a social media campaign that blamed French forces.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/03/top-us-commander-africa-pleads-resources-counter-russian-disinformation/395145/
