MRA Backs New Policy On Information Integrity In West Africa

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has welcomed the adoption of a Policy Framework connected Information Integrity successful West Africa and the Sahel, describing it arsenic a timely measurement successful tackling the rising question of disinformation, misinformation and hatred code threatening the region’s accusation space.

The 19-page model was adopted connected Friday, September 5, 2025, astatine the extremity of a three-day Regional Conference connected Information Integrity successful West Africa and the Sahel, convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) successful concern with the Government of Capo Verde. The conference, held successful Praia, Capo Verde, brought unneurotic governments, determination bodies and civilian nine actors.

According to UNESCO, the argumentation seeks to foster spot successful the accusation ecosystem, beforehand integer level governance and uphold quality rights successful effect to the misuse of emerging technologies and the increasing dispersed of harmful content.

In a connection signed by its Programme Officer, Ms. Adesewa Akintokun, MRA commended UNESCO, governments and civilian nine stakeholders who contributed to the process.

She said: “At a clip erstwhile the dispersed of mendacious and misleading accusation undermines democracy, fuels struggle and erodes nationalist spot successful institutions, this inaugural provides an important blueprint for fostering a healthier and much resilient accusation environment.”

Akintokun noted that the framework’s accent connected state of look and entree to information, portion ensuring accountability and ethical standards, makes it a balanced instrumentality for addressing threats without becoming a screen for censorship.

She besides welcomed the adoption of 2 complementary instruments – the Praia Action Plan for Information Integrity successful West Africa and the Sahel and the Guide for Regulators to Implement the Information Integrity Model Policy – describing them arsenic affirmative milestones.

However, the MRA authoritative stressed that the existent trial of the model lies successful its implementation. “We impulse each stakeholders to show the governmental will, committedness and collaboration indispensable to construe the papers into factual actions that volition beforehand accusation integrity and antiauthoritarian resilience successful West Africa and the Sahel,” she said.

Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment, Akintokun added that MRA volition proceed to enactment with governments, media, civilian nine and different actors to safeguard journalists, fortify media institutions and empower citizens to actively enactment successful democratic governance.