ECOWAS Backs Bold Action Plan to Tackle Disinformation in West Africa.

By Raymond Enoch.

In a powerful show of regional unity against the growing threat of disinformation, ECOWAS Commissioner Sediko Douka delivered a keynote address at the High-Level Ministerial and Plenary Sessions of the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, held in Praia, Cabo Verde.

Speaking on behalf of H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Douka reaffirmed the bloc’s unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation among member states to combat fake news, misinformation, and harmful narratives destabilizing the region.

“Disinformation is not just a digital issue—it’s a threat to democracy, peace, and regional cohesion. ECOWAS is determined to confront it head-on, together,” Douka declared.

The conference, which drew high-level representation from across the region and beyond, culminated in the adoption of the Policy Framework on Information Integrity and the validation of the Praia Action Plan (2026–2036)—a roadmap to guide national and regional responses over the next decade.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Cabo Verde’s Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, communication ministers from The Gambia and Niger, as well as official representatives from Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and others. International partners also joined the summit, including UN Special Representative Dr. Leonardo Santos Simão and UNESCO Assistant Director-General Dr. Tawfik Jelassi.

The Praia Action Plan sets out practical steps for enhancing information literacy, strengthening national legal frameworks, and promoting ethical journalism to safeguard public discourse in West Africa and the Sahel.