Praia Summit Launches Bold Action on Information Integrity, AddressessDisinformation Fight in West Africa and the Sahel.
By Raymond Enoch
A major regional initiative to combat disinformation and safeguard the integrity of public information across West Africa and the Sahel began on Wednesday, as the Regional Conference on Information Integrity opened in Praia, Cabo Verde. Organized by the Government of Cabo Verde in collaboration with UNESCO and several key partners, the three-day conference has brought together policymakers, civil society leaders, journalists, and digital experts from across the region to confront one of the most urgent challenges of the digital era.
Among the participants is Modou Joof, Secretary General of the Gambia Press Union, who told Paradigm News that the forum represents a timely and necessary response to the growing regional threat of false narratives and digital manipulation.
“The regional conference is not just about crafting policies,” Joof said. “It is about strengthening the resilience of populations to disinformation and hate speech, promoting inclusive access to information and public data, and encouraging meaningful multi-stakeholder engagement to protect the integrity of information in our societies.”
Running from 3 to 5 September, the conference aims to promote a coherent and integrated policy approach that supports the flow of accurate and trustworthy information. Key goals include improving the governance of digital platforms, defending fundamental human rights, and ensuring that efforts to counter online misinformation do not come at the cost of free expression or public access to vital information.
A central theme of the event is building stronger collaboration among governments, digital platforms, civil society organizations, and the media. With elections, civic movements, and public debate increasingly shaped—or distorted—by viral disinformation, organizers stress the urgent need for clear policy direction, practical tools, and a unified regional commitment to truth and accountability.
The conference is expected to culminate in the adoption of a model policy on information integrity, which countries can adapt and integrate into their national frameworks. It will also put forward a governance framework for digital platforms that balances regulation with transparency and accountability, along with a regional action plan to promote coordinated interventions and policy alignment.
Taking place at a time when West African democracies face mounting pressure from coups, contested elections, and rampant digital misinformation, the Praia conference signals a growing consensus: the integrity of the information space is essential for peace, stability, and democratic progress.
Delegates have expressed optimism that the conference will mark a pivotal moment in the region’s fight against disinformation and the erosion of public trust. As discussions continue, Praia has emerged as the epicenter of a regional movement committed to ensuring that citizens have access to truthful, reliable information—a cornerstone of participatory governance and informed decision-making in the digital age
