Media and development actions aims to raise awareness of risks linked to social networks in Central African youth. At his head, Rocard Maleyo fights against disinformation.

In the Central African Republic, more than 77 % of individuals are young. This category of the population is also that undergoing the consequences of disinformation most.

"No more mandate as coordinator of the Central African (AFC) association of Factscheckers, I understood that the country faces a real problem: ignorance of social media in a young environment. »»

From August 2022, Rocard Maleyo then launched the association Media and development actions (AMD). It revolves around three main missions: The fight against disinformation and hate speeches, training in media project management, and above all, the promotion of Media education in youth.

“According to IFRI statistics, the internet penetration rate is 18 % and therefore young people consume the given rate at more than 10 %. They are therefore affected first by disinformation on social networks. »»

Says his coordinator.

In general, in the region, the rate of use of social networks is up each year, making Fact-Checking a major issue for those who constitute the future of the continent. For the journalist, it is of public notoriety that since 2018, the Central African Republic has undergone a war by proxy maintained by certain world powers. Thus, disinformation is organized at a state level. The former Central African president, Ange Félix Patassé, also described the nation of " country of rumors ".

Regarding the need for training in media project management, Rocard Maleyo notes a low capacity to mobilize resources within the Central African media. Thus, the AMD intends to put its skills in project design and search for funding to the benefit of media structures.

"It is 'we' who told you, stop and check"

This is the association's slogan, a reflex that Rocard Maleyo invites young people to develop. Awareness workshops, campaigns on social networks, collaboration with other organizations such as CJCLD , and training for young journalists ... Since its creation, the AMD has covered a wide range of actions on the subject. The primary goal is to develop the critical thinking of the population concerned.

Rocard Maleyo delivers some tips in this sense:

“In our various awareness sessions, we always encourage young people to be vectors of good news. We always try to give them anecdotes from the consequences of disinformation in our society. Since the stories we give them have a true foundation, we think that this greatly contributes to allowing them to doubt each information they receive as long as it is not yet verified. […] "

Added to this is the fundamental information verification techniques, such as image verification applications, answers to questions of reference to journalism and, of course, common sense.

“When you are on the side of truth, you are immediately protected from any form of manipulation and prosecution. »»  

Fact-checking and investigation work are above all "a priesthood work". He warns, for those who would like to embark on the community. Who says priesthood, says self -denial, in a country where the journalistic profession does not yet allow you to live well.

What future projects for the AMD?

The ambitions of media and development actions are now turning to an extension of media and information education measures (EMI) , in a young environment and throughout the national territory.

“The projects carried out in recent months were very limited in terms of budget, so that we have not been able to cover the whole country, but it is in the cities of the RCA that the need is most felt. »Land on Mr. Maleyo.


Also to come, edition of an EMI manual. The AMD hopes to carry out this project in partnership with the government, in order to include this in the curricula of national education. Objective: make the EMI a national cause. This initiative should make it possible to secure access to the right to information on site.

“For us, the right to information for all is fundamental for respect for human rights and democracy to be a reality. He concludes.