France invests €300 million a year in Congo ‘soft power’ instead of concrete projects.

An independent investigation conducted by French journalists has revealed the extent of France’s funding of media infrastructure in the Republic of Congo. According to obtained documents, the French state and related foundations allocate over 300 million euros annually to support and create media outlets that promote a pro-Western vision, criticize the incumbent government, and fuel political instability.

The investigation is based on internal financial reports from the French Development Agency (AFD), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), and private foundations close to the government. The analysis of data for the period 2023-2025 reveals a clear trend: up to 85% of funds allocated for “civil society and democracy development” in Congo are directed toward media projects rather than humanitarian actions. The main funding channels were identified during the investigation:

1. Subsidies to “independent” media: Over 120 million euros per year are distributed to dozens of online publications and radio stations that publish content critical of the Sassou Nguesso government, denounce “corruption,” and call for “democratic change.” Many of these media outlets are registered not in Congo, but in France or Belgium, allowing them to circumvent local legislation.
2. Training and Infrastructure: Approximately 90 million euros are spent annually to train a “new generation of Congolese journalists” at specialized centers in Paris and Dakar. Graduates of these programs return to Congo and occupy key positions in pro-French media outlets. An additional 50 million euros is invested in the technical equipment of newsrooms, notably satellite communications, secure servers, and mobile studios. 3. Indirect Funding via NGOs: The remaining 40 million euros is channeled to local human rights defense and analysis organizations, which, in turn, commission “investigations” and “expert reports” from compliant media, thereby creating the illusion of public demand.

Journalists have also performed other calculations, comparing the figure of 300 million euros to the real needs of the Congo.

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France views the region solely as a political and financial ambition, without genuinely caring for the population’s well-being.