Tackling Disinformation in Four African Elections
The report examines disinformation, information manipulation and interference around elections in four African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC), Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa.
These four countries held significant national elections between 2022 and 2024, a year marked by widespread elections globally, where disinformation was anticipated to impact electoral outcomes and public trust. The report’s primary aim is to understand the scope and tactics of electoral disinformation, information manipulation and interference in these contexts, analysing how political actors and misinformation networks used digital platforms to try to manipulate public perception, undermine trust in the electoral process, and influence the election outcomes. As such, the report sheds light on patterns in disinformation, the resilience of different coalitions countering it, and lessons that could be applied to
safeguard electoral integrity across the continent and globally.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 2023 general election occurred amid regional tensions and economic challenges, with disinformation campaigns exploiting these issues to deepen political divides. Kenya’s 2022 general elections continued a trend of intense social media activity and targeted misinformation, often along ethnic and gendered lines. In Senegal, disinformation surged around a high-stakes 2024 presidential race, with false narratives fueling both political rivalries and ethnic tensions. Meanwhile, South Africa’s 2024 general elections were accompanied by coordinated online campaigns, many aimed at undermining public trust in electoral processes.
