Mustapha Lawal reports from Dakar
The Africa Facts Summit 2025 opened on October 1 in Dakar, Senegal, gathering more than 200 participants from 20 countries for the first edition hosted in Francophone Africa. From the pioneers who built the continent’s first fact-checking desks to the new generation confronting harassment, funding crises, and AI-driven disinformation, Day One delivered frank reflections on where the movement stands, and where it must go next.
Opening Ceremony and Keynote
The summit began with an official address from Habibou Dia, Director of Communication at Senegal’s Ministry of Communication, who underlined his government’s commitment to access to reliable information and media literacy. He noted that Senegal had recently adopted a law on access to information and called for “an army of fact-checkers in the newsrooms” to counter the flood of misinformation online.
Assane Diagne, Francophone Chief Editor of The Conversation and a pioneer of fact-checking in French-speaking Africa, followed with welcome remarks, stressing that fact-checking alone cannot solve disinformation’s challenges: “We need to rake more widely by reaching the general public,” he urged.
The keynote address came from Fatou Jagne Senghor, jurist, human rights advocate, and founder of the Center for Women’s Rights and Leadership. Drawing on her years of experience leading Article 19 West Africa, she underscored the link between media freedom, access to information, and resilient democracies.
A Decade of Fact-Checking in Francophone Africa
The first major panel brought together pioneers of fact-checking to reflect on ten years of challenges, lessons, and visions for tomorrow. Anderson Diedri (Eburnie Today, Côte d’Ivoire), Peter Cunliffe-Jones (University of Westminster researcher and founder of Africa Check, UK), Hamadou Tidiane Sy (founder of Ejicom and Ouestaf News, Senegal), and Samba Dialimpa Badji (OsloMet researcher and former Africa Check French editor) shared the stage. Moderated by Valdez Onanina of Africa Check, the conversation traced how fact-checking moved from a marginal initiative to an indispensable part of Africa’s information ecosystem. Examples were shared of corrections influencing electoral debates, shifting public health narratives, and holding governments accountable. Yet speakers admitted the work still feels at times like “a house under construction” or “a game of whack-a-mole,” with disinformation constantly mutating.
Beyond the Crisis: Rethinking Sustainability
The day’s second panel tackled the existential question of sustainability. Moderated by Katharina Lobeck of GIZ, it featured Doreen Wainainah (PesaCheck), Bisan Habu (Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development), Sébastien Babaud (European Union), and Julia Monjanel (CFI).
Panellists warned of dwindling donor attention, geographical deprioritisation of African work, harassment of journalists (with figures showing that nearly 78% of fact-checkers have faced harassment), and new waves of influence operations and FIMI (foreign information manipulation and interference).
Possible solutions included proactiveness, diversification of revenue through investments and local philanthropy, research collaborations, and specialisation into investigative journalism and accountability reporting. Speakers strongly emphasised embedding editorial independence clauses into contracts to safeguard against being co-opted into agenda-setting.
The session also introduced the FIMI toolbox, covering situational awareness, resilience, disruption, regulatory, and diplomatic responses, as a guide to navigating complex threats. A book recommendation closed the session: How to Work With People You Don’t Trust, reflecting the sometimes uneasy alliances needed in countering disinformation.
Internet, Democracy and Governance
In a presentation that blended technology with civic engagement, Laïty Ndiaye of AfricTivistes showcased how digital platforms are being used for citizen mobilisation in governance processes. From civic-tech products to media labs and civic participation tools, his talk spotlighted the role of the internet in strengthening democracy across the continent.
Data, Dignity and Digital Rights
To commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), a special panel chaired by Misako Ito of UNESCO examined Access to Information in the Age of Disinformation. Speakers included Churchill Otieno (The African Editors Forum), Lister Namumba-Rikhotso (Media Monitoring Africa), Edetaen Ojo (Media Rights Agenda), and Kehinde Adegboya/Alfred Bulakali (Article 19).
The panel unpacked UNESCO Resolutions 630, 631, and 620, stressing state obligations to protect the right to information, shifting transparency responsibilities, and ensuring universal access to public-interest data. Concerns about data exploitation, accessibility gaps, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks featured prominently.
Breakout Sessions: Tools and Creativity
The afternoon breakout sessions allowed participants to explore practical tools:
Press cartoons and fact-checking, led by Azil Momar Lo (Africa Check), Cris Chinaka (ZimFact), Moïse Esapa (Balobaki Check), and Lassane Zohoré (Gbich!), with moderation by Sophie Brondel (Cartooning for Peace), showcased how satire and visuals can be used to dismantle misinformation.
Google’s latest AI content detection tool, presented by Ken Kiunga (Google News Initiative), introduced Veo 2 and Veo 3 for AI content creation and SynthID, a watermark-based detection tool still in development. Currently limited to Google-generated outputs, SynthID is being expanded through partnerships with other AI providers.
In the final round, Fotso Fonkam (Code for Africa) demonstrated tools for verifying audio content and deepfakes, while another breakout introduced VERA, an AI designed to “hunt down fake news.” Both underscored the growing intersection between AI threats and AI-enabled solutions.
Live Cartooning
Throughout the day, live cartoonists captured sessions in real-time, turning technical debates into bold, accessible visuals. For FactCheckAfrica, this resonated with our own gamification flashcards, proof that creative storytelling continues to be one of the most effective tools in engaging the public on disinformation.
It is always necessary to dig to get the right information
Looking Ahead
Day One of the Africa Facts Summit 2025 revealed both the fragility and the resilience of fact-checking in Africa. From pioneers reflecting on a decade of growth, to urgent debates about sustainability and the promise of new technologies, the summit made clear that fact-checking is no longer a peripheral task. It is central to protecting information integrity, strengthening democracies, and empowering citizens across the continent.
fact-checking can expose inaccuracies or falsehoods, even if the process might seem to “melt away” or dismantle established narratives
“TU ME TROMPES INFIDÈLE!” (You are cheating on me, unfaithful!).
“BÉBÉ, NE FIE PAS AUX APPARENCES! TU CONNAIS LE FACT-CHECKING?” (Baby, don’t trust appearances! Do you know about fact-checking?).
