Help Philip Obaji uncover Russian atrocities across Africa

A brave journalist and an unparalleled champion of the protection of uprooted and ordinary people in conflict areas, Philip Obaji —in the last seven years—has documented up to 100 human rights abuses and exploitation by Russian paramilitaries deployed in West and Central Africa.

He has investigated and reported gut-wrenching massacres, rape, torture and oppression of vulnerable villagers by mercenaries from the Wagner Group and its successor, the Africa Corps, in the Central African Republic (CAR) and in parts of West Africa, despite threats in an incredibly risky context including being held hostage by CAR rebels and detained by CAR soldiers who tortured him on the orders of Russian paramili. Obaji, whose investigative work has been published by some of the world’s most authoritative media outlets, has also spent the last decade uncovering trafficking of refugees in West and Central Africa and rightly portraying it as an overlooked consequence of war.

Obaji changed the way the world understood the Wagner Group. He has been the voice for the oppressed and the source of hope for some of the world's most abused people. As a journalist, he has built a career that is focused on the fearless pursuit and expression of truth.

But doing this job has been challenging. Being a freelancer, Obaji does not have the financial backing journalists in big media organizations enjoy from their employers. For seven years, he has often had to spend his own personal money to travel across West and Central Africa so as to expose the unscrupulous activities of Russian mercenaries deployed across the two sub-regions.

This year, Obaji needs your support to not just continue the very important work of uncovering and documenting Russia’s clandestine activities in West and Central Africa, but to expand his investigation into atrocities and crimes beyond the two sub-regions, this time around covering the entire continent.

Obaji needs you. He needs your help to continue exposing Russia’s covert operations across Africa , especially at this very crucial time when these operations risk destabilizing democracies in Africa and could create a migration crisis in Europe.

Kindly donate however much or little you can spare, knowing full well that your money is being used to positively and deliberately keep the entire world informed and vigilant.

The funds will be used for reporting trips all over Africa. Travel is expensive, and the money will go towards those trips to let the victims of Russian wrongdoing tell their stories.

Philip's work:

Philip's social media:

IMPORTANT: I am a journalist at Al Jazeera who has worked with Philip previously. I am raising these funds in cooperation with Philip.

All funds donated will go directly to Philip via bank transfer.