A significant report details allegations of Russia employing AI disinformation campaigns across several African nations. The U.S.-based company Anthropic published findings in September, identifying the AI model Claude’s involvement. These operations reportedly targeted the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Sudan, and Mali.
In the CAR capital, Bangui, Russian operatives allegedly used Claude to foster pro-Russian influence. The report describes monitoring opposition politicians and creating propaganda content. Disinformation campaigns also received support through this AI tool.
Claude primarily generated material for Radio Lengo Songo, the report claims. The international investigative collective All Eyes on Wagner asserts this radio station receives Russian funding. This collective investigates activities of the Wagner Group and its successor structures like the Africa Corps.
The generated content reportedly promoted pro-Russian narratives. It positively portrayed the Central African government and Africa Corps mercenaries. Conversely, it adopted a critical stance towards France and the local opposition.
Lou Osborn, from All Eyes on Wagner, contributed to the research. He views these methods as consistent with prior Wagner Group tactics in the CAR. Osborn noted several arrests of individuals not closely tied to President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s regime. Such actions have occurred for years, he added.
Online campaigns often followed these arrests. Newspapers and radio broadcasts depicted the individuals as French proxies or Western intelligence assets. Others were accused of preparing a coup against President Touadera.
Anthropic also reported requests to Claude for portraying opposition figures as armed militants. This aimed to provoke security forces into action. However, Claude reportedly refused these specific requests. The report did not specify the monitored opposition figures or data collected.
For the opposition, this report confirms government intent. Martin Ziguele, a party chairman, recalled earlier tactics. He cited events since 2020, during rebel attacks on Bangui. Media outlets then linked opposition leaders to the rebel coalition, he explained.
Ziguele added that the opposition faced accusations of foreign funding. Furthermore, there was an attempt to pass a law targeting foreign agents. All these events connect to Wagner Group activities and this latest revelation, he stated.
Russia firmly denies the allegations. Dmitri Sytyi, a Russian mission representative in the CAR, dismissed the report. He called the claims “vague allegations, without precision and without evidence.”
However, the report indicates the CAR was not an isolated incident. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also saw 318 articles published, it states. These appeared on about 70 fake news sites. Over 250 fictitious X accounts then distributed them, supporting the Congolese government’s stance against Rwanda.
In Kenya, Claude allegedly produced batches of 50 messages at a time. These supported the government while expressing hostility towards the opposition. Meanwhile, in Sudan, AI tools helped create fabricated witness statements for the United Nations. This operation is attributed to individuals in the United Arab Emirates.
An adviser with intelligence ties in Mali reportedly used Claude as well. He developed a platform for telecommunications monitoring. This system aimed to target 25 million SIM cards. It also sought to bypass judicial authorization requirements.
Anthropic stated it identified and disrupted all these varied operations. This involved deleting implicated accounts and enhancing detection systems. These actions underline the growing challenge of AI disinformation campaigns.
