Allegations based on French agency's findings
According to Anadolu Agency, Barrot cited findings from Viginum, France's foreign digital interference watchdog, in accusing Moscow of seeking to undermine French interests by manipulating opinion in sovereign countries. He said Viginum had detailed the alleged operation in a report released Tuesday.
"I will ask for European sanctions to be imposed on those responsible for this interference operation, which targets Cameroon and the Republic of Congo in particular," Barrot wrote on X. He added: "Russia is desperately trying to colonize minds, but it will fail because we are not fooled."
As of October 27, 2026, Russia, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo had not publicly responded to the accusations.
An existing EU sanctions mechanism
Barrot identified no potential sanctions targets and offered neither a timetable nor details of the measures France would request. The proposal would need action at the EU level.
The EU already has a mechanism for sanctioning those involved in Russian hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference. The Council established the framework on October 8, 2024, and has used it repeatedly to list individuals and entities.
Those listings included four individuals sanctioned for information manipulation activities on March 16, 2026, followed by two entities, Euromore and Pravfond, on April 21, 2026. France's proposed sanctions would fit within that existing framework.
Accusations ahead of Russia-Africa summit
Barrot's announcement came a day before the scheduled opening of the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin and African leaders are due to attend the October 28-29, 2026, gathering. The Kremlin says 48 of Africa's 54 countries have confirmed participation, with 22 represented by their heads of state.
The allegations add to European concerns about Russian influence operations in Africa as Moscow seeks closer political, security and economic ties across the continent.
Viginum, established in 2021 to monitor foreign digital interference and protect France against it, also examined African Initiative in a separate 2025 report with the EU's diplomatic service and the UK Foreign Office. The three bodies described the Russian news agency as participating in influence operations across Africa.
