Foreign Interference in African Elections

The Disinformation Epidemic

The Global Risks Report 2024 identifies disinformation as one of the top risks the world will have to contend with, predicting that over the next two years the widespread use of misinformation and disinformation may undermine the legitimacy of newly elected governments.

"Resulting unrest could range from violent protests and hate crimes to civil confrontation and terrorism. The rise of disinformation may increasingly embolden governments to control information based on what they determine to be 'true'."

Foreign Sponsored Disinformation Campaigns

A recent study by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), "Mapping a Surge of Disinformation in Africa", has found that disinformation campaigns to manipulate African information systems have surged nearly four-fold since 2022.

Social media platforms have become the primary vectors for foreign disinformation campaigns targeting African elections

Mercenary Information Operations

Deploying mercenary disinfo-ops teams, one Israeli group, "Team Jorge" has reportedly carried out disinformation campaigns influencing over 20 African elections since 2015.

The Path Forward

All these reports make it clear that foreign state actors are heavily invested in influencing the African political space and elections for their own purposes through disinformation. African politicians must therefore rise to the occasion and act to safeguard our democratic space.