DISINFO: France orchestrating neo-colonial coups in African countries such as Madagascar
SUMMARY
France is involved in the attempted coup in Burkina Faso and also intends to destabilise the situation in three other countries in the region, according to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing plans to eliminate "inconvenient leaders" in Africa, seeking opportunities for political revenge for his country on the continent. France was part of the failed coup attempt in Burkina Faso on January 3 and intends to sow chaos in the Central African Republic, as well as orchestrate a coup in Madagascar, whose authorities have expressed interest in developing relations with the BRICS nations.
RESPONSE
No evidence is provided to support the claim. Allegations made by Russia’s intelligence services cannot be considered as such, given their proven history of making unsubstantiated affirmations based on faked or non-existent proof.
Claims about France attempting to overthrow the government of Burkina Faso have been a constant since the current military junta reached power in a coup in 2022. Since then, Burkinabe authorities have targeted France and French citizens and symbols, expelling journalists and diplomats, ordering the withdrawal of French troops and accusing Paris of being involved in destabilisation attempts. However, these allegations have never been substantiated and were firmly denied by Paris.
Similar allegations about Madagascar have been identified as part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation operation in this country.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that France and Ukraine are using terror tactics to destabilise Africa, that France coaches, trains and equips terrorists in Africa, that France is supporting terrorism in Mali, that France plans to invade Niger from southern Libya with US help, that France wants to exchange Niger for Armenia, or that the West brought terrorism in the Sahel to get Africa's natural resources.