Standing for Information Integrity in West Africa

From July 9 to 11, Lagos, Nigeria, became the focal point for a crucial gathering. Organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), this three-day conference was a beacon of hope amidst the growing threat of information manipulation. In an era where the swift spread of information manipulation poses significant risks to societal stability and governance, safeguarding information integrity is more crucial than ever. This conference addressed this pressing issue by bringing together a diverse group of experts-including information integrity specialists, journalists, academics, civic tech innovators, social media platforms, and civil society organizations-from across West Africa, including nations under military rule. Participants built on existing best practices to develop a comprehensive action plan to combat information manipulation across West Africa and the sub-region, strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions throughout the region.

The conference opened with an impassioned address by NDI Nigeria Deputy Country Director, Francis Madugu. His words resonated with urgency and hope as he emphasized the existential threat that information manipulation poses to democracy. He talked about the emerging trend of illiberal actors using information manipulation to undermine trust in democratic institutions and how election information is becoming distorted and unclear. Francis then highlighted the critical partnership between NDI, CDD, iLab Liberia, and The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), with NDI improving digital competencies, providing tools and technical training, and offering financial support for these organizations to develop innovative initiatives for monitoring and countering information manipulation, particularly in electoral contexts.

The tone was set, and the stage was handed over to Professor Ukerto Gabriel Moti from the University of Abuja. His keynote presentation delved into the dark underbelly of recent democratic reversals in West Africa, revealing how coups and democratic backsliding were often preceded by sophisticated information manipulation campaigns.

Throughout the three days, stories from recent elections in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were shared. In Nigeria, pre-election observations by CDD West Africa had documented an alarming 170 false claims and narratives. The proactive approach of the Countering Disinformation War Room was lauded as a crucial defense against these manipulations. Similar trends were echoed by partners like iLab in Liberia and the SLAJ, painting a stark picture of the disinformation landscape.

Amid the discussions, artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as both a formidable challenge and a powerful ally. Participants shared instances where AI-generated fake content had influenced public opinion, such as manipulated audio during Nigeria's 2023 presidential election. Yet, hope was found in AI-driven fact-checking tools, like apps that check the authenticity of a news article or chatbots that can check claims or statements for truthfulness, such as dubawa.org chatbot that a person can use on WhatsApp at +2349015227915), which demonstrated the potential of technology to uphold information integrity.

A notable highlight of the conference was the visit of the High Commissioner for Canada, Jamie Christoff. He began by extending appreciation to NDI and CDD for their partnership. Addressing the attendees, he highlighted the pervasive threats of fake news, hate speech, myths, information manipulation and specific, gendered information manipulation.

"We continue to evolve against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and technological advancements, including AI, of course. West Africa is a region I know relatively well. I have spent a fair amount of my career on the continent, but indeed it is the region most targeted by disinformation, accounting for nearly 40% of documented disinformation campaigns in Africa. These challenges are exacerbated by social and political dynamics, economic disparities, and ongoing conflicts, making the establishing and sharing of best practices amongst key stakeholders particularly crucial to regional stability," Christoff stated.

During the conference, participants were strategically divided into five groups in which their work fits. Each group was tasked with developing actionable plans that built on the best practices previously identified during a previous regional conference in Liberia. The Legislation Advocates group concentrated on legal reforms, focusing on the creation of policies that directly address information manipulation. The Data Guardians worked on strategies for enhancing media literacy, safeguarding electoral integrity, and ensuring the effective use of AI in countering information manipulation. The Fact-Checkers United focused on improving the dissemination of fact-checking and other tools available for verifying information, particularly in marginalized communities. The Media Masters aimed to foster collaboration among media professionals and fact-checkers across the region, ensuring a coordinated and sustainable approach to countering information manipulation. Finally, the Tech Titans concentrated on holding tech companies accountable, advocating for platform guidelines that reflect African cultural and linguistic contexts. These collaborative efforts underscored the importance of building a resilient information ecosystem in West Africa.

Despite the clear potential, participants acknowledged the significant hurdles ahead. High development costs and a scarcity of locally designed tools were major concerns. However, the conference provided a platform for solution designers and end-users to connect, share insights and forge collaborative paths forward. Discussions extended to the need for holding technology giants accountable for preventing the spread of false and misleading information, especially its gendered dimensions that disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

As the conference drew to a close, there was a unanimous call to action. Ensuring an information ecosystem free from manipulation will require a collective effort. The participants resolved to build enduring partnerships, leverage innovative technologies, and uphold the integrity of information. This united stand, they believe, is essential to strengthening democratic processes across West Africa and the subregion.

Authors: Daniel Ukpai, Senior Program Officer - NDI Nigeria and Armsfree Ajanaku, Fact-Checking Lead - Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa)

NDI's engagement with this program is implemented with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.

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