Russian agents use AI in Central African Republic

A report by US company Anthropic claims russian agents deliberately used the ai assistant claude to promote pro-russian influence in bangui, the capital of the central african republic.

“detecting and countering misuse of ai”

Claude creates pro-russian propaganda

Anthropic says claude was used to produce content broadcast by radio lengo songo, a radio station funded by russia according to all eyes on wagner.

Opposition faces surveillance and disinformation

opposition figures were portrayed as armed militants by claude to provoke security forces, though anthropic says claude refused the request.

Government targets opposition through disinformation

opposition leader martin ziguele said the government has been using disinformation to link opposition to foreign groups since 2020.

Russia denies disinformation claims

russian representative dmitri sytyi called the report vague allegations without evidence or precision.

AI disinformation in other african countries

anthropic found ai was used in drc to create 318 articles across 70 fake news sites, in kenya to generate 50 messages at a time, in sudan for un witness statements, and in mali to monitor 25 million sim cards.

Anthropic shut down ai operations

anthropic uncovered and shut down all ai disinformation operations between december 2025 and august 2026 by deleting accounts and strengthening detection systems.