ECOWAS Reaffirms Commitment To Tackling Disinformation In West Africa and the Sahel
In an era where false narratives spread faster than facts, the fight for information integrity has become as crucial as the fight for peace itself.
For West Africa and the Sahel, where fragile democracies and security challenges already test stability, safeguarding the truth is no longer optional it is essential.
On 5 September 2025, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Water Resources, and Digital Economy, Mr Sediko Douka, addressed high-level ministerial and plenary sessions at the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel in Praia, Cabo Verde, on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission President. Dr Omar Alieu Touray.
Mr Douka participated in the adoption of a Policy Framework on Information Integrity and the validation of the Praia Action Plan (2026–2036), both designed to guide the region’s coordinated response to disinformation, harmful content, and the erosion of trust in institutions.
The conference drew an impressive line-up of dignitaries, including Cabo Verde’s Prime Minister, H.E. Dr José Ulisses Correia e Silva, communication ministers from across West Africa, the UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Leonardo Santos Simão, and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr Tawfik Jelassi.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS President, Mr Douka reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to collaboration and collective action, stressing that unity among Member States and global partners is vital to counter harmful narratives and strengthen democratic resilience.
