The article highlights the misinformation surrounding Vladimir Putin's supposed involvement in Africa during the 1950s-1970s, propagated by figures like Cameroonian influencer Franklin Nyamsi. Despite Putin's age and lack of evidence for these claims, disinformation continues to thrive, especially in post-colonial regions like the Sahel, where distrust in established media outlets allows for unchecked narratives. Experts, like Dr. Joseph Siegle, emphasize that colonialism's relevance has diminished in political discourse, although historical grievances still resonate, leading to the Kremlin's exploitation of anti-colonial sentiments for its strategic gains.
Vladimir Putin came to fight in Africa in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s," Cameroonian influencer Franklin Nyamsi tells his hundreds of thousands of followers in a video shared across multiple platforms. "He participated in the fight against Western imperialism. I hope you know that.
in environments where there isn't an established set of trusted media outlets you get an explosion of unregulated, unfiltered social media," which he says is especially prevalent in the Sahel.
I'd like to remind people that colonialism ended 60 years ago ... It wasn't part of recent election discourse," he said.
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