Online mis/disinformation campaigns have the potential to skew the information landscape and undermine key pillars of democracy, especially during the election season. These information operations have become a tool of influence across Africa – at times undermining traditional professional media. With a focus on South Africa’s 2024 election, this study spotlights the tactics, narratives and actors who drive such campaigns and offers lessons for other African countries.

About the authors

Karen Allen is a Consultant at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and writes extensively on emerging tech, disinformation and social media, terrorism, justice and other conflictrelated themes.

Jean le Roux is an ISS Consultant and a disinformation researcher covering sub-Saharan Africa. He is a Research Associate with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.