Cyberattacks, Fake News Threatening African Polls –IDEA International

The integrity of African elections is facing mounting pressure from disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks, IDEA International has warned.

Olufunto Akinduro, senior adviser on Electoral Processes for Africa and West Asia at International IDEA, stated this yesterday at a regional workshop in Abuja.

The event, supported by the European Union (EU) under the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance project, gathered electoral officials, policymakers, and civil society representatives across West Africa.

Akinduro stressed that protecting elections today goes beyond ballot counting.

“Safeguarding elections now means protecting both the technical processes and the perception of fairness and credibility.

“Misinformation and disinformation are as critical as logistical shortcomings.

“Over the past decade, digital platforms have transformed Africa’s electoral landscape.
“They have opened space for civic participation but also become fertile ground for false narratives, reputational attacks, and online manipulation.

“Recent elections across the continent have revealed how coordinated disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks can erode public trust, disrupt voting processes, and even spark violence.”
Also, Sergine Mamadou Ka, head of the Electoral Assistance Division at the ECOWAS Commission and permanent secretary of ECONEC, said elections can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of ballot boxes.
“They are increasingly shaped by the narratives that circulate in the information space.

“Electoral management bodies cannot address these challenges in isolation,” he told participants.

Ka emphasised the need for regional cooperation and collective learning to confront disinformation and other digital threats.