Arouing all lusts, Africa has been the field of a particularly virulent information war for a few years. The population undergoes hardly the games of regional powers and foreign influence, amplified by disinformation. According to a study by the Ichikowitz Foundation, the increase in the dissemination of infox infringes the right to information by almost 90 % of young people on the continent.
Fortunately, initiatives are born and multiply everywhere in French -speaking Africa, against fake news and propaganda! On October 5, 2023, the first independent organization of verification of the facts Africa Check met. There are several measures, including the training of 200 animators to raise awareness among youth and cartooning for Africa Facts, highlighting press drawings on the subject. This year, Factoscope , AfricTivists and Disinfox Africa also work in collaboration with the local media for the cause.
“ The training is very relevant. Personally, the modules on Smart Brevity and Listicle were of great use to me. This is a very practical articles processing mode and that I use daily , ”says Cryspin Laoundiki, journalist for online Burkinabè media, Faso .
Still in favor of the right to information, the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), has supported many projects since the end of 2022. Among them, "Co shave the false information, together " brings together Togo Check and the Gondwana in Niger. " Training of the networks of journalists from Central Africa on the protection of their audience against the effects of disinformation " brings together professionals from Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic. As for the “La Pouter” project managed by the Les Surligneurs association, and Ivory Check, it should make it possible to develop software for writing articles and Fact-Checking for the general public.
The states themselves are starting to get involved! This December 15, the Cameroonian authorities close Africa Média. If this sudden closure is explained by a lack of compliance of social security standards, the renowned Pan -African television channel is also known to be a Moscow propaganda broadcast channel.
Foreign influence and media step
In 2023, the exercise of the profession of journalist was difficult in 40% of African countries, against 33% in 2022, according to reporters without borders. The omnipresent campaigns of skull stuffing complicate the practice all the more.
The disinformation comes from different actors, including external powers, such as the proven case of Russia. Under the sub -Saharan sun, the contents of the propaganda media Russia Today and Sputnik are currently strongly relayed. In January, Africa Media signed a partnership with RT . A year earlier, the United States is already accusing the chain of work in concert with Evgueni Prigojine, the former leader of the group of mercenaries Wagner, operating on the continent. In order to guide public opinion, these platforms and communication channels have alternatives to national and Western perspectives. All this, through the dissemination of political and cultural content.
If the Kremlin strives to influence Africa today, it is not the only one. A phenomenon regretted by the founder of the Pan -African company APO Group which declares that it is disappointed " by the growth of the influence of international media on the continent. Here we can cite CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, TV5, etc ... They talk about Africa but are not African […]. »»
