African media response to disinformation and digital shifts

Media professionals and leaders across Africa are intensifying efforts to combat disinformation and adapt to digital transformations, particularly those driven by artificial intelligence.

In Senegal, Alioune Tine of the Afrikajom Center advocated for strengthened defenses for African democracies, recommending updated press codes, sector regulation, and the creation of a dedicated task force to combat fake news. This initiative, supported by Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University, focuses on training stakeholders to address new manipulation methods.

Regional efforts have expanded to include Congo and the Sahel. In Brazzaville, the Salon de l’information, de la communication et des médias (SICOM) addressed the transition from print to digital and audiovisual media. Simultaneously, in Ouagadougou, the Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism (CENOZO) convened journalists and regulators from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. During this conference, Modeste Ouédraogo of the Superior Council of Communication warned that the media landscape has become a “battlefield for narratives” designed to destabilize the Alliance of Sahel States and undermine institutional trust.