French Green Party leader urges PM to reconsider asylum for Central African Wagner whistleblower

The president of the Ecologist and Social group, Cyrielle Chatelain, during the question session to the government at the National Assembly in Paris, on July 21, 2026. JULIEN MUGUET FOR "LE MONDE"

The president of the Ecologist deputies, Cyrielle Chatelain, has written to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu requesting intervention on behalf of Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, according to a letter consulted by Agence France-Presse on Thursday, July 23. The Central African whistleblower, who contributed to revelations about the Wagner Group, was recently denied asylum in France.

Background

A refugee in France since 2024, Mr. Yalike-Ngonzo was behind a Forbidden Stories investigation that exposed disinformation operations conducted in Central Africa by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. He had participated in these operations before distancing himself.

Key Arguments from the Letter

• On France's stance: "France intends to fight against destabilization operations conducted by foreign powers and relies on the testimonies of people who take considerable risks to document them," the deputy writes.

• On the risk to future cooperation: "However, the lack of effective protection for these witnesses could send a particularly worrying signal to those who might be likely to cooperate with French or European authorities in the future to uncover such operations," she adds.

Asylum Rejection and Inconsistencies

The asylum request was rejected in April on the grounds that his participation in the Russian propaganda apparatus was incompatible with granting protection. However, Ms. Chatelain notes that Mr. Yalike-Ngonzo claims he continued acting to document these networks "without arousing the suspicions of their sponsors."

In her letter, she calls for a re-examination of his asylum request and questions the coherence of French policy on foreign interference. She points out that "Xenia Fedorova, former president of RT France, the propaganda channel funded by the Kremlin, had her residence permit renewed for a period of ten years."

Previous Activities

Between 2019 and 2022, Mr. Yalike-Ngonzo participated in publishing "press articles praising the Central African army and its new Russian partners, based on propaganda elements provided by his sponsors" in Central African media, according to the NGO Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa.

He worked under a man identified as Mikhail Prudnikov, a "key figure in Moscow's influence system in Central Africa," who was placed under European sanctions after his revelations.

According to the same NGO, Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo was welcomed in France with his family following the "personal intervention" of President Emmanuel Macron.

Le Monde with AFP