Africa Facts Summit 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, aims for strengthening Information integrity

A lack of access to information as well as the steadily increasing harms from disinformation undermine democracy all over the world, including on the African continent. For this reason, journalists, human rights activists and academic researchers came together for the Africa Facts Summit on 1st and 2nd October 2025. The aim of the gathering was to understand the connection between the internet, democracy and governance, and to explore ways of ensuring information via fact-checking. This highly relevant event was held in Dakar, Senegal, making it the first time it had been held in a French-speaking nation.

Topics covered included strengthening information integrity, and the reflection of narratives and geopolitics in conflict zones such as the Sahel. Experts from across Africa and Europe came together to share insights into their experiences and work. Participants also received information on tools for identifying deepfakes and fake news. As part of the summit, three press cartoonists drew the debates and discussions live and presented them at the exhibition, 'Cartoons for Africa Facts'. The exhibition aimed to demonstrate how cartoons can be a useful tool for exposing misleading methods and combatting misinformation. A particular highlight was the presentation of the African Fact-Checking Awards, which honours outstanding, high-quality journalistic work.

KAS Media Africa supported ten journalists and editors from across the country to attend the Africa Facts Summit 2025. They shared their experiences of working in Tanzania, Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Nigeria, Uganda, Gambia and Cameroon.