This annotated bibliography examines the evolving landscape of information integrity in West Africa, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by digital misinformation, hate speech, and the overall vulnerability of the information space in the region. It provides a review of scholarly and think-tank literature published between 2020 and 2025, identifying key trends, gaps, and responses to information disorders in the context of West Africa’s digital environment.
Key Insights:
The digital transformation in West Africa has revolutionised the flow of information, enabling greater political participation and social engagement through platforms such as social media and instant messaging. However, it has also given rise to significant challenges, including the proliferation of disinformation, particularly in politically sensitive periods such as elections and conflicts. The literature review also revealed that research in the region has largely focused on Nigeria, while Francophone and Lusophone countries remain underrepresented.
This annotated bibliography identifies and categorises existing literature into four key areas:
- Disinformation Actors and Strategies: A focus on the various agents involved in spreading disinformation across West Africa’s digital platforms, including political actors, foreign entities, and social media influencers. This section highlights how these actors exploit social divisions, especially in the lead-up to elections or during periods of conflict.
- Contexts of Information Disorders: An exploration of the events and conditions under which information disorders thrive, particularly during political instability, elections, and armed conflicts. It shows how disinformation and hate speech are weaponised to manipulate public sentiment, incite violence, and deepen societal divisions.
- Fact-Checking and Artificial Intelligence (AI): An overview of efforts to combat disinformation, with a particular focus on fact-checking initiatives and the potential role of AI in identifying and disseminating correct information. It also highlights the limitations of AI, especially in detecting disinformation in local languages and on platforms like Telegram.
- Media Literacy as a Response: An examination of the role of media literacy programmes in empowering citizens to critically assess and engage with information. These initiatives aim to counter disinformation by fostering a more informed and resilient public, thus supporting democracy, peacebuilding, and social cohesion.
This annotated bibliography offers a snapshot of the current state of information integrity in West Africa, showcasing both the challenges and the efforts being made to address them. Understanding these regional specificities is crucial for crafting effective global interventions that can tackle similar information integrity challenges across diverse contexts.
