Johannesburg, 28 November 2025 – FactSpace West Africa participated in a high-level panel discussion hosted by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) during the Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action (AFSA) Conference 2025, held from 25 – 27 November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The AFSA Conference, organised by the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, convened leading African scholars, practitioners, and institutions on the margins of the G20 Summit.
This year’s theme, “Africa in the G20: Advancing Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” focused on strengthening the continent’s agency and strategic engagement in global governance.
As part of its collaboration with ACSUS and other regional partners, CDD-Ghana convened a panel discussion on the theme: “Foreign Influence, Disinformation, and Democratic Resilience in West Africa & the Sahel: Rethinking African Agency in the Age of Global Contestation.”
RelatedNews
Rabiu Alhassan, Executive Director of FactSpace West Africa, served as moderator for the session, which brought together a panel of regional experts, including: Moussa Kondo, Executive Director of the Sahel Institute, Mali; Ibrahima Kane, Governance Expert and Advisor to the Special Envoy of the President of Senegal; Paul Osei Kuffour, Coordinator of the WADEMOS Network; and Kessy Ekomo-Soignet, Director, Peace and Development Watch, Central African Republic.
The session explored the rising impact of foreign influence, information manipulation, and coordinated disinformation campaigns on governance and political stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Drawing on CDD-Ghana’s baseline study, “Foreign Powers, Interests, and Impacts on Democratic Consolidation in West Africa,” the conversations highlighted how external actors increasingly shape political transitions, exploit governance gaps, and influence public opinion through both traditional and digital channels.
The panellists also examined how Africa’s enhanced participation in multilateral platforms, particularly under South Africa’s G20 presidency and the African Union’s seat at the table, could be leveraged to advance democratic resilience, promote regional cooperation, and strengthen African agency in global affairs.
Speaking after the event, Rabiu Alhassan emphasised the importance of evidence-driven analysis, regional collaboration, and improved media and information literacy systems to counter foreign interference and bolster democratic norms.
FactSpace West Africa remains committed to promoting information integrity, strengthening civic resilience, and supporting partners across the region in responding to emerging threats of information disorder.
