Penplusbytes is set to unveil its maiden Disinformation Index Report, which examines the spread of election and post-election disinformation in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

The launch took place on September 11, 2025, at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, alongside a high-level meeting themed “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in West Africa: Combating Disinformation with Evidence, Collaboration, and Innovations.”

The gathering brought together representatives from academia, security agencies, government ministries, civil society, and the media to discuss strategies for tackling disinformation and safeguarding democracy in the region.

Disinformation has become a growing threat to democratic systems worldwide, often polarising societies, deepening divisions, and weakening governance structures.

In West Africa, the fast-changing information landscape has created new vulnerabilities, particularly around elections, highlighting the urgency for cross-border collaboration and evidence-based responses.

The Disinformation Index Report will provide a comparative analysis of risks, patterns, and impacts of disinformation across both traditional and digital platforms.

It will also highlight differences between Sahel states and coastal democracies, showing how disinformation spikes during electoral cycles.

Organisers expect the high-level meeting to generate practical recommendations and regional strategies that strengthen democratic resilience.

With this initiative, Penplusbytes is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to counter disinformation and protect democratic governance in West Africa.