According to a report from France Inter, a recently released investigation by the non-profit organization Forbidden Stories has uncovered intricate details regarding Russian influence networks in Africa and Latin America after the departure of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military contractor Wagner Group. These revelations highlight the sustained capacity of Russian entities to project power and maintain influence in key global regions despite changes in personnel and leadership. The report was shared in a segment of their ongoing series 'The Propaganda Machine,' which delves deep into contemporary issues regarding media influence and political machination.

The investigation was notably informed by the receipt of over 1,400 pages of internal documents from the Prigozhin network, which were sent anonymously to the editor-in-chief of The Continent, a weekly digital publication launched in South Africa. The documents include strategic plans, activity reports, budgets, and biographies, detailing the operational foundations of Prigozhin's networks and illustrating their previous control structures before transitioning oversight to the Russian foreign intelligence service. This 'treasure trove' of information is expected to aid in tracing the dynamics of power shifts and the continuity of strategies employed by Russian operatives across these sensitive geopolitical landscapes.

The shift of influence from Wagner to Russian intelligence highlights the adaptability and resilience of Russian state actors in sustaining their international outreach, particularly during periods of uncertainty following the internal power struggles that have characterized the organization since Prigozhin’s removal. By spotlighting these developments, Forbidden Stories not only raises awareness about the nature of media operations in global politics but also emphasizes the importance of investigative journalism in understanding complex international relations and the implications of state-sponsored influence.