As the impact of disinformation on African societies escalates, Tactics Institute calls for urgent measures to counter the alarming threat posed by digital campaigns to regional stability, security, and freedom. A recent report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) has revealed a disturbing surge in disinformation campaigns across the continent, with Russia emerging as the primary source of misinformation. Tactics Institute urges immediate action to combat disinformation and safeguard regional stability and peace in Africa.
The proliferation of disinformation, documented in 189 campaigns, poses a grave danger to the democratic processes and societal cohesion of African nations. Russia, through aggressive exploitation of social media and dissemination of fake news, has sponsored 80 documented campaigns in over 22 countries, representing nearly 40% of all disinformation activities in Africa.
The opaque nature of disinformation makes it difficult to quantify its full extent, suggesting that the reported figures may underestimate the actual impact. ACSS warns that actors behind sophisticated disinformation attacks are leveraging digital platforms to reshape Africa’s information landscape, undermining trust in media and manipulating public perception on an unprecedented scale.
With an estimated 600 million internet users in Africa, including 400 million active on social media, the reach and accessibility of digital communications have facilitated the rapid spread of disinformation. Tactics Institute emphasizes that urgent action is needed to address the menace posed by foreign and domestic actors engaged in information warfare against African populations.
The surge of disinformation campaigns orchestrated by foreign powers such as Russia, China, and the Gulf States threatens the very fabric of African societies. These campaigns undermine democratic principles, support authoritarian regimes, and perpetuate instability, jeopardizing regional peace and security.”
Tactics Institute calls upon all stakeholders to recognize the severity of the disinformation threat and take decisive action to safeguard African democracies. We urge the international community to condemn these malicious activities and uphold the fundamental rights of African citizens to access accurate and unbiased information.
In light of the escalating disinformation crisis, Tactics Institute demands immediate intervention to combat the spread of false narratives and uphold the integrity of African media ecosystems. We call upon governments, civil society organizations, and technology companies to collaborate in developing comprehensive strategies to counter disinformation and protect the democratic aspirations of the African people.
