The company said its investigators traced the French accounts to “individuals associated with French military.” However, both Facebook and Graphika, a New York City social media analysis firm that investigated the accounts with Facebook, said they found no evidence of direct institutional involvement by the French government or military. France was once the colonial power in Central African Republic and nearby countries that Facebook also identified as being targeted. The Russian operation, primarily conducted in French, posted pro-Kremlin videos and applauded the Central African Republic’s incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, according to Graphika. It began as early as May 2018, focusing on the Central African Republic and security in Mali. Meanwhile, the largest following a French group amassed in the Central African Republic was 34 followers.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 17, 2020 16:52 UTC