False news is increasingly rampant, particularly due to social media, in the Central African Republic. To combat this trend, bloggers, media outlets, and certain civil society actors have ramped up training and awareness sessions in recent months.
In a period marked by tensions between the government and the opposition, as well as socio-economic and security crises, disinformation has become ubiquitous in the Central African Republic. “Since 2017 up to the present day, we have witnessed a surge in disinformation,” explains Arsène-Jonathan Mosseavo, publisher of the journal “Les Autres Nouvelles de Centrafrique.” “Primarily in the political sphere, some actors invent stories from scratch to undermine political opponents, particularly during electoral periods.”
The issue arises when the Central African public is sometimes inadequately informed. Controversies and disinformation can therefore fuel conflicts, according to Junior Bouté, Secretary-General of the Consortium of Journalists for the Fight Against Disinformation: “Disinformation has escalated in the Central African Republic. Today, politicians manipulate certain youths at their whim. Disinformation brings about war and division among communities.”
Facebook and WhatsApp Particularly Affected
These falsehoods are widely disseminated on social media, explains Arsène Mosseavo, posing a danger to Central African society. “It’s mostly on social media, with the advent of new technologies, the internet, especially on the Facebook platform. There are also groups created on WhatsApp platforms that propagate false information. Every day, communicators affiliated with the government or the opposition engage in smear campaigns, spreading false news, attacks, and messages of hatred for their interests.”
To combat the circulation of false information, several monitoring cells have been established in recent years by journalists, civil society actors, and researchers. The mission of these bodies is to track false information and verify facts. Among these organizations is the association “Action Média et Développement.” Established in 2021, its goal is to raise awareness among media professionals and young digital actors about the consequences of false news while offering solutions.
“In recent times, in the Central African Republic, the level of disinformation is very high. Those behind the disinformation have ample resources. The creator has all the necessary comforts: their computer, and internet connection, because everything happens online nowadays. But the other side also has the means to fight back. Effective countermeasures can be implemented if the other side has the means to do so,” points out Rocard Maleyo, coordinator of Action Média et Développement. “Now, everyone must mobilize to combat this scourge that plagues our country.”