Facebook suspends 3 Russian accounts that interfered with Africa

Facebook suspends 3 Russian accounts that interfered with Africa

Facebook has suspended three accounts owned by Russians in what they have termed as foreign interference in Africa.

The social media company said the accounts were supporting  a number a selected number of political figures and derided pro-democracy activists in African countries.

Some of the countries that were targeted by the Russian accounts include Madagascar, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon.

The move comes barely a week after the Africa-Russia Summit which saw 54 African states send a representative to the meeting held in Sochi, including 43 Heads of State.

The two-day event also saw more than 3,000 delegates from across Russia and Africa meet to discuss an array of topics from nuclear energy to mineral extraction.

According to the Voice of America, documents leaked by The Guardian stated that companies and groups affiliated with the Russian government have been cooperating with African politicians and interfering in elections adding that Madagascar’s president Andry Rajoelina won the election with Russian support.

An estimated 1.72 million accounts “liked” the now removed Facebook pages, according to The Stanford Internet Observatory.

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