Four United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa are actively engaged in preventing and countering disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining mission credibility. These missions include MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), MINUSCA in the Central African Republic, MINUSMA in Mali, and UNMISS in South Sudan. Although the missions in the DRC and Mali have begun shutting down since 2023, their efforts to combat falsehoods remain crucial.
The initiative seeks to address the impact of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech on health, security, stability, and progress toward sustainable development goals. Recognizing the power of social media networks and other communication channels, U.N. missions are leveraging smartphones, editing apps, and innovative approaches to build what they refer to as a “digital army.”
MONUSCO’s head, Bintou Keita, acknowledges the ongoing battle waged through social media, radio, and traditional news outlets. She emphasizes the importance of proactively countering deadly disinformation to protect peacekeeping efforts. As part of this strategy, U.N. peacekeepers are empowering civilians, including young activists like 15-year-old Blessing Kasasi in the DRC. Blessing participated in a workshop in Kinshasa, where she learned to detect “fake news” and respond with accurate information.
Guillaume Kingh-Farel, a workshop trainer, highlights how disinformation is weaponized to undermine MONUSCO’s peacebuilding work in the DRC. To equip individuals with the skills needed to combat false information, the MONUSCO-supported workshop focuses on training a “digital army.” Participants learn to create objective, credible content using smartphones and editing software, which is then disseminated through “relay clubs.”
By fostering media literacy and promoting truth, these efforts contribute to maintaining peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.