Eight pallbearers—some clad in tracksuits bearing the FIFA logo—hoisted a coffin onto their shoulders as referee whistles rang out in harmony with a mournful song. It was September 2020, and a crowd had gathered at a sports stadium in the Central African Republic (CAR) to honor the late Jean Claude Sendeoli. A respected teacher in Bangui and a referee for the nation’s football federation, Sendeoli was fondly remembered by his students on social media, while FIFA recognized him in its 2020 obituaries.
But while his body was laid to rest, his identity was not. In the years that followed, Sendeoli’s photos were co-opted into a pro-Russian disinformation campaign, crafting a fabricated persona whose supposed journalism spread across media outlets in over a dozen African nations. The very images and videos from his funeral would later become key evidence in Al Jazeera’s investigation, exposing a propaganda network and revealing that a so-called geopolitical expert never existed.
A Marketplace for Disinformation
“Good evening, sir. My name is Aubin Koutele, I am a journalist for TogoMedia24,” read a WhatsApp message from February 2022, obtained by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit). “I would like to know the conditions for publishing an already edited article on your website,” wrote Koutele, the editor of a Togolese news site.
The reply from a Burkinabe newspaper came swiftly: “We will review it, and if it aligns with our editorial guidelines, we will publish it.”
Like many media houses worldwide, news outlets in Burkina Faso were struggling financially. To stay afloat, some had turned to alternative revenue streams, including publishing sponsored content. While such paid articles typically promote products or services, some serve an entirely different purpose—spreading propaganda.
This was one such case. Koutele submitted the first of several articles. “Article not signed,” the editor noted, pointing out the missing byline.
“My apologies. The author is Gregoire Cyrille Dongobada,” Koutele responded.
Soon after, the article was published, and Koutele transferred the payment—approximately $80.