Philip Obaji Jr.

“If a colonel couldn’t do anything, what could I do?”: A Belarusian border guard’s confession In the second half of 2021, a systematic effort by the Belarusian government created a crisis on the EU’s eastern border: the authorities in Minsk began bringing would-be migrants into Belarus, then t...

Four years ago, a systematic effort by the Belarusian government created a crisis on the EU’s eastern border: the authorities in Minsk began bringing would-be migrants into Belarus, then transporting them to the frontier with Poland and the Baltic states.
theins.ru/en/confessio...

Fired up and ready to speak about atrocities committed by Russian paramilitaries in Africa to journalists, activists and human rights campaigners from around the world, gathered in Mérida, Spain, for the International Congress on Migration and Development Journalism.

“Migrants are used as an instrument by the regime to put pressure on the European Union’s borders, and our neighbours are really suffering from this.” — Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Mali: des vétérans de Wagner narrent leurs crimes et s'en prennent aux militaires maliens Des vétérans de Wagner racontent leurs années au Mali. Dans un documentaire de 2h40 révélé par nos confrères de Jeune Afrique, et que RFI a pu visionner, les mercenaires reviennent sur les principales...

Russian paramilitaries admit to committing war crimes in Mali. They broke into homes, burned camps and shot on sight from vehicles belonging to the Malian armed forces. These are the kind of atrocities I’ve spent years uncovering in Mali and in Central Africa
www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/2...

Putin is escalating Russia’s hybrid war against Europe. Is Europe ready? Putin has clearly been encouraged by Trump’s efforts to downgrade America’s involvement in transatlantic security and feels emboldened to escalate his own hybrid war against Europe, writes Maksym Bezn...

Putin is escalating Russia’s hybrid war against Europe. Is Europe ready?
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

The German city of Esslingen has decided to award me the Theodor Haecker Prize for “extraordinary courage & journalistic integrity” including work that “exposed the influence & impact of the Russian mercenary group Wagner and its brutal actions.” What a great honor
www.esslingen.de/philip-obaji

The German city of Esslingen has decided to award me the Theodor Haecker Prize for “extraordinary courage & journalistic integrity” including work that “exposed the influence & impact of the Russian mercenary group Wagner and its brutal actions.” What a great honor
www.esslingen.de/philip-obaji

Donate to Help Philip Obaji uncover Russian atrocities across Africa, organized by Yarno Ritzen A brave journalist and an unparalleled champion of the protect… Yarno Ritzen needs your support for Help Philip Obaji uncover Russian atrocities across Africa

I risk everything to expose Russian massacres & human rights abuses in Africa. My investigations give victims a voice. My work uncovers how Russia weaponizes illegal migration to Europe. Support my work by donating. Every donation fuels my mission for truth
gofund.me/b9742eac5

Russia's role in trafficking, smuggling from Libya to EU – DW – 04/22/2025 Libya's robust infrastructure for human traffickers and smugglers serves domestic and Russian enterprises, observers say. What can the European Union do to take control?

Russia's role in trafficking, smuggling from Libya to EU
amp.dw.com/en/russias-r...

Three West African countries to quit International Criminal Court - BBC News The three military juntas, who came to power through coups, say the judicial body is 'incapable' of handling 'proven war crimes'.

Russian allies—Burkina Faso, Mali & Niger—have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an "instrument of neo-colonialist repression". Don’t forget that Vladimir Putin is subject to an ICC arrest warrant
www.bbc.com/news/article...

INVESTIGATION: Road to Alabuga: Shady recruitment of young Nigerian women to Russia Nigeria's education ministry tells PREMIUM TIMES its website was hacked to place the Alabuga advert on it.

Russia is becoming more desperate in its war on Ukraine. Young Nigerian women are being recruited to build drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000km east of Moscow. The Nigerian education ministry’s website was hacked to promote this shady scheme.
www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlin...

Russia is ramping up immigration enforcement to pressure migrants to join the frontline in Ukraine and increase deportations of people from various Asian countries.

www.globaldetentionproject.org/russia-weapo...

Russia, Belarus, and Libya Orchestrate New Migration Crisis in EU - Militarnyi The Russian government is likely cooperating with Libyan dictator Khalifa Haftar to orchestrate a new wave of migration crisis in the European Union

Russia, Belarus, and Libya Orchestrate New Migration Crisis in EU
militarnyi.com/en/news/russ...

Multiple credible sources confirm that foreign state actors, among them the Russian Federation and Belarus, have deliberately weaponised illegal migration as part of their hybrid warfare strategy, targeting EU Member States.

www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...

How Russia uses migrants as weapons — and why some blame Britain Eastern Europe struggles to ‘smash the gangs’ when the people-smuggling is sponsored by a nuclear power waging war in Ukraine. Some say the UK’s pull factor worsens the crisis

How Russia uses migrants as weapons
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...

Ukrainian soldiers captured a Kenyan citizen serving in the Russian army in Kharkiv Oblast. The captured Kenyan national, who claimed to be an athlete back at home, said he traveled to Russia as a tourist and was deceived into joining the Russian army.

2 ex-miliciens Azandé , devenus soldats FACA, enlevés par les mercenaires russes dans les locaux de la SRI à Bangui : 6 mois plus tard, ils sont introuvables Dans la nuit du 24 au 25 janvier 2025, Gouengue Élie, soldat de deuxième classe FACA, et son compagnon d’armes Bakoyogo Célestin Lemane ont été enlevés à Bangui par des mercenaires russes du groupe Wa...

Russian paramilitaries kidnapped Central African soldiers Gouengue Élie (pictured) and Bakoyogo Célestin Lemane back in January. Six months after their abduction in capital, Bangui, the soldiers are still missing.

corbeaunews-centrafrique.org/2-ex-milicie...

Russia Coerces African Migrants Into War After Luring Them With Fake Job Offers Russia is misleading African migrants with job offers, coercing them into military service, revealed an investigation by The Telegraph.

Russia is recruiting African migrants under false pretenses, offering them jobs in civilian industries before forcing them into military service or drone production.

united24media.com/latest-news/...

Africa, Immigration & russia’s Propaganda Machine YouTube video by Project Konstantin

I will be speaking on how Russia exploits Africa to destabilize Europe. Join live on Wednesday, September 10, at 6 p.m. GMT.
www.youtube.com/live/qVN6zoO...

‘Russia is waging an unconventional war on Europe. Through its campaign of sabotage, vandalism, espionage and covert action, Russia’s aim has been to destabilise European governments, undermine public support for Ukraine by imposing social and economic costs on Europe’
www.iiss.org/research-pap...

Migrant Battalion | Great Lakes ZAM is an international multi-media platform celebrating African creativity and new thinking. Committed to giving an edgy and contemporary viewpoint on Africa, ZAM’s content is free of clichés, platit...

This is how Russia recruits young African men & women to work in a drone factory in Alabuga, where they face pressure to join the war on Ukraine. Unfortunately, African governments offer little help and many returnees experience shame and trauma.
www.zammagazine.com/investigatio...

Libyan migration uptick unnerves Europe, with or without a Russian hand Italy, France, Greece and Malta have raised concerns with the EU about a surge in migration through Libya. Some suspect Russian influence — but man...

As Russia’s influence in Libya grows, some in Europe suspect that it could attempt to increase migration flows as a way to destabilise EU countries — much as it has done at the border between its client state Belarus and Poland.

www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

Two months from now, I will be showcasing, in South Africa, how Russia is spreading disinformation across West Africa, destabilising democratic processes and bolstering support for authoritarian regimes.

Plane carrying EU’s top leader targeted by alleged Russian GPS jamming | CNN A plane carrying the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was targeted by GPS navigation jamming while trying to land in Bulgaria on Sunday, a spokesperson for the commission told CNN.

Russia allegedly jammed the GPS navigation of an aircraft carrying the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while trying to land in Bulgaria on Sunday. The pilots were forced to land the plane using paper maps.

www.cnn.com/2025/09/01/w...

This is how the Russian Wagner Group hired British citizens to carry out an attack in London.

Russian mercenaries operate in the shadows, exploiting Africa’s resources. They want us to look away, to cower, to forget. But I won’t forget the faces of the survivors I’ve met, the graves I’ve seen, or the courage it takes to stand up to those who believe they are untouchable.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine - Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Russia's systemic disinformation campaign against Ukraine in African countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has recently observed a significant intensification of Russian disinformation targeting our state in African countries

Russian officials, as well as media outlets & bloggers affiliated with Russia, have been injecting baseless insinuations into the information space, accusing Ukraine of “dangerous activities,” “undermining the foundations of statehood & sovereignty” of African nations
mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zaya...

How Moscow is reinventing its influence machine across Africa Russian operatives are using new tactics to expand Moscow’s reach in Africa, two years after the death of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. An investigation led by RFI and the monitoring group All Eyes…

Russia is expanding its reach in Africa. Two Russians were arrested in the Angolan capital Luanda after violent protests over soaring fuel prices. They had set up a network of propaganda & disinformation created to stir unrest & bankroll the demonstrations
www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20...

In Africa, Russia is swapping a ruthless paramilitary for a replica it can control | CNN Wagner, a feared Russian mercenary group, is being replaced on the continent by another Russian paramilitary, experts say – the Africa Corps.

In Africa, Russia is swapping a ruthless paramilitary for a replica it can control.

edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/a...

The number of African migrants in Russia is rising sharply. Relatives from Cameroon report the deaths of their loved ones who signed contracts for work in Russia and ended up in the war in Ukraine. Some went into it knowingly, while others expected civilian jobs with high salaries.