The Islamic State group attacking truffle producers in the Syrian desert, an Ivorian recruited to fight with the Wagner militia in Ukraine and the far-reaching impacts of India’s “love jihad” conspiracy. These are just a few of the stories that shaped 2023 for us. The FRANCE 24 Observers team takes a look back at some of the key investigations from this year.
An Ivorian who fought for Wagner in Ukraine
On January 1, a video showed the leader of the paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, with a fighter said to be an Ivorian who had come to Ukraine to "defend" his second homeland, Russia. From Abidjan to a Russian prison to the Ukrainian front, we retrace the surprising itinerary of this man, nicknamed "Aboya".
The Western ‘travel influencers’ pushing state propaganda in Syria
Their videos seem innocent at first. Travel vloggers who want to show you the side of Syria you don’t see in the news: nightclubs, restaurants, culture. But we uncovered how these influencers are being shown around the country by regime-sponsored guides who shape the narrative.
Armed men in civilian clothes with police in Senegal protests
On June 4, Senegalese police showed the press a series of video clips that they claimed showed armed protesters. But the full videos, shared widely on social media, show the same armed individuals alongside the police. So who are these armed men? And whose side are they on?
Deadly attacks on Syrian truffle hunters by the Islamic State group
The Bedouin communities living in the unforgiving Badia, or the Syrian desert face a surge in armed attacks each year during the truffle season. As tribes go out to hunt the precious commodity, they risk being ambushed by sleeper cells of the Islamic State group.
India’s Muslims live in fear of accusations of 'love jihad'
It’s a conspiracy theory that has taken hold in India for decades: right-wing groups say there’s a coordinated campaign by the country’s Muslim minority to seduce and convert Hindu women. There’s a non-stop flow of disinformation online, and Muslim men who dare talk to Hindu women often find themselves targets of real-life violence.
How Russia is recruiting Cuban mercenaries
Pro-Ukrainian hackers posted images of the passports and documents showing that 192 people – all Cuban except for one Colombian – had been recruited by a Russian army officer to fight for the Russian Army in Ukraine. We spoke to two of them, who said they did it for financial opportunities.
Iranian-sourced weapons used in Hamas and Islamic Jihad's Israel assault
It is no secret that most of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad bunkers are filled with weapons of Iranian origin. Iranian officials have repeatedly confirmed that they provide economic and logistical support to Hamas. But how much of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel was made possible with Iranian arms?
Civilians caught in Sudan's civil war
Six months after fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the toll of the war has been heavy: 5,000 dead and five million displaced. In this visual investigation, three of our Observers explain how the country has plunged into a place of horror marked by rape, torture and ethnic violence.
How a Haitian congregation tried to take down a gang
In August, an evangelical pastor and his followers attempted to attack a gang in the Haitian capital, using sticks and machetes. The gang retaliated, killing at least 21 people. What exactly happened that day? Why did ordinary worshippers go to confront an armed gang?
Gazan workers released from Israeli detention accuse soldiers of torture
On November 3, Israel began releasing thousands of Gazan workers who had been held prisoner in Israel and the West Bank. We were able to speak with some of them. They accuse Israeli soldiers of humiliating them, handcuffing them and beating them.
How the Israeli military is bombing 'safe' areas in southern Gaza
The IDF has been calling on Palestinian civilians to evacuate to "safe zones" in the south. But these same areas have been the target of multiple bombings, resulting in casualties.
