A tapestry of actors, attitudes, and impact: Countering disinformation in Africa

In 2024, as 64 countries prepare for elections, including 17 African nations, the threat of disinformation looms large, posing a significant challenge to democracy, peace, and security. This report, prepared by four authors from CIPESA, focuses on four African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. They shed light on the continent’s disinformation landscape with a focus on elections, on tactics employed, on actors involved, and on strategies deployed for pushback. Despite promising initiatives by civil society coalitions and collaborative frameworks between governments and social media platforms, the study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive approaches. By fostering interdisciplinary cooperation and leveraging collective resources, stakeholders can devise tailored strategies to effectively counter disinformation, safeguarding democratic processes in diverse African contexts. 
This report is part of an international research series conducted under the theme “strengthening democracy, countering disinformation”, commissioned and supported by the Upgrade Democracy team between 2023-2024.