In Mali, disinformation spreads at an alarming rate, fueled by political tensions, social conflicts and the explosion of social networks. Faced with this threat, an initiative is distinguished: Benbere, a pioneering platform in the fight against fake news, which combines Fact-Checking and awareness to meet this challenge.
Même si nous ne disposons pas de chiffres précis sur l'impact réel de la désinformation au Mali, il est clair que les années d'instabilité qu'a traversées le pays ont favorisé la prolifération des fake news.
Créée en 2018 avec l’appui de RNW Media avec l’objectif de promouvoir un journalisme participatif et responsable surtout auprès des jeunes, la plateforme Benbere cumulant plus de 300 000 abonnés est rapidement devenue un fer de lance dans la lutte contre la désinformation. À travers son initiative BenbereVerif, la plateforme traque, vérifie et corrige les rumeurs circulant sur les réseaux sociaux.x. Benbere a vérifié des centaines de publications virales, notamment des déclarations trompeuses sur des figures politiques et des fake news portant sur la sécurité nationale.
But Benbere is not limited to fact-checking: the team regularly organizes training for journalists, bloggers and citizens in order to develop their critical mind. In a country where digital education remains limited, these efforts play a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of communities in the face of media manipulations.
A citizen participation approach
Benbere mise sur l’éducation aux médias pour renforcer l’esprit critique des Maliens. Des ateliers interactifs sont régulièrement organisés dans les écoles et universités, avec pour objectif d’apprendre aux jeunes à analyser et vérifier les informations qu’ils consomment. Ces formations incluent des techniques pratiques, telles que l’identification de sources fiables et l’utilisation d’outils de vérification en ligne. En parallèle, la plateforme engage les citoyens à travers des campagnes sur les réseaux sociaux, notamment via des hashtags comme #BenbereVerif ou #BololoLakana. Ces initiatives encouragent les internautes à signaler les rumeurs et à partager des contenus vérifiés, créant ainsi une dynamique participative.
Benbere is distinguished by its strategic use of digital tools and interactive formats. His explanatory videos, often short and impactful, decipher the most viral rumors by accompanying them with tangible evidence. Infographics make it possible to popularize complex subjects, making information accessible to all.
Challenges and perspectives
However, Benbere meets several challenges that complicate his mission. Abdoulaye Guindo, coordinator of the platform, underlines:
"We are facing many obstacles, including limited internet access in certain regions, as well as the political situation which sometimes forces us to self -censor on certain subjects. Access to reliable sources also remains a problem, especially in the current Malian context."
These challenges make the work of verification particularly difficult. The platform is actively looking for solutions, in particular through strategic partnerships with local and international organizations.
In addition, Benbere concentrates his efforts on strengthening the capacities of Fact-Checkers through continuous training programs, intended to train new actors capable of fighting disinformation independently.
The platform also undertakes to extend its actions in rural areas, where access to reliable information is particularly limited. Adapting to local realities, Benbere hopes to improve the quality of information and the resilience of rural communities in the face of media manipulations.
Abdoussala Dicko