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The digital investigations manager at the Digital Technology Artificial Intelligence and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC), Silas Jonathan, revealed that terrorist groups actively use misinformation to expand their influence in the conflict-afflicted Lake Chad region in Africa.
He disclosed this in a keynote session while addressing journalists at the three-day African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC2024) held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
While speaking at the session-themed “Terrorism in the Sahel,” he stressed the importance of personal connection to statistics often cited in discussions about conflict. “Each time this conversation is raised, it’s just numbers. You have to be able to imagine yourself in a crisis zone,” he said.
As a digital investigative journalist and researcher, Mr Jonathan focused on how information contributes to crises in the Lake Chad region.
He said, “One of the things I have pulled out is the economy of violence and the prioritisation of conflict.”
He pointed to state and non-state actors profiting from ongoing conflicts, citing instances where military officers perpetuate crises for personal gain.
“There is also a rising demand for immigration as people seek better opportunities,” he added, noting that this has led to an economy centred around human trafficking.
He highlighted the weakening democracy in the Sahel region as a significant factor contributing to instability.
“Historically, democracy has been questioned over its legitimacy to deal with terrorism,” he explained.
He pointed to external influences fuelling existing tensions, particularly from groups like Russia’s Wagner Group, which complicated the situation further.
In his research on information disorder, Jonathan said that information is power that increases when misinforming the audience. Drawing parallels with historical events like the Rwandan genocide and Nazi propaganda, he explained how extremists are now using social media platforms to recruit new members.
“On Facebook and TikTok, there are groups managed by extremists promising better lives in exchange for allegiance,” he noted.
He also said that several studies beyond his organisation confirmed how misinformation could lead to panic within communities with vulnerable populations.
Mr Jonathan also discussed demographic trends in social media engagement, stating that terror groups exploit such trends to exaggerate their influence. “People are more likely to engage with narratives that evoke fear,” he explained.
He pointed out that communities can feel powerless after just one gunshot or alarming message spread through social media.
He also noted that human trafficking remains another pressing issue connected to these crises. Jonathan shared a heart-wrenching story of a man whose brother left Nigeria for Europe to seek better opportunities but had not been heard from in six years.
“Although this is a particularly unique story, it tells of others who are desperate to leave the region,” he said.
Mr Jonathan called on journalists to counteract misinformation and effectively engage with these narratives.
“The conflict is moving from just the physical realm to the digital platform,” he warned, urging journalists to explore new ways of addressing these challenges.
He noted that recent protests in Nigeria, where demonstrators waved Russian flags and called for military governance, were indicative of shifting sentiments towards authoritarianism.
In his conclusion, Jonathan said, “Poverty has been a significant factor driving conflict in the Sahel.” He emphasised the need to address poverty in the region.
