In an era of digital interconnectedness, the ability to manipulate and interfere with information has become a powerful tool in the hands of major global players. The spread of misinformation or biased narratives can significantly influence public opinion, political decisions, and economic landscapes, often in ways that are detrimental to the target regions.
In recent years, African countries have been the subject of an increasing number of sophisticated communication strategies by foreign actors, involving a mix of media engagement, public diplomacy, and strategic narratives that support their broader geopolitical goals in the continent. The latter have often sought to disrupt democratic processess, smear allies in the region and undermine Western hegemony.
This project aims to identify the different narratives, techniques and channels used by foreign actors and their respective proxies in Africa to increase their influence in the region. The goal is to help identify and develop appropriate measures to counter hybrid threats, disinformation, and foreign interference on the continent.
The research project will be developed in the following phases:
- Phase 1 - Defining the Scope: This will involve identifying the main social networks in Africa, with a particular focus on pro-foreign actors' channels on Telegram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, which are highly popular in the region.
- Phase 2 - Identifying the Narratives: This phase will aim to consolidate the narratives used by threat actors to increase their influence in the region. These narratives may include promoting debt forgiveness and the use of soft power elements.
- Phase 3 - Impact Analysis: This will involve determining the impact of the narratives disseminated by the threat actors and comparing them with other narratives found in traditional regional media channels.
- Phase 4 - Perception of Changes: This phase will analyze the changes experienced by societies, institutions, or governments of the countries targeted by disinformation campaigns. The focus will be on the economic and social aspects of these changes.
- Phase 5 - Consequence Analysis: This will involve analyzing the potential consequences of the attempts by threat actors, originating from the governments of the aggressor countries, to assert foreign interests in Africa.
A final report synthesizing all the findings and providing recommendations for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society will be produced and presented at a public event by the end of 2024.
Research Lead
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