In an election year, when hot-button issues such as migration and religious conflict can be politicised and weaponised, insisting on verified information and holding those who spread false information to account has come under the spotlight.

In this episode, we talk to Africa Check’s chief editors Lee Mwiti (English) and Valdez Onanina (French) about their experiences fact-checking during elections, including the types of misinformation you’re likely to encounter, and how to tackle them, as well as proven strategies for amplifying verified information through coalitions with media and civil society, and training for those who consume and disseminate information. This episode also includes a special feature on the Nigeria Fact-checkers’ Coalition, an alliance of 12 fact-checking news and research organisations that verify statements made by politicians and false narratives shared online.

Featured guests

Lee Mwiti, Africa Check chief editor

Valdez Onanina, Africa Check chief editor in Senegal

Opeyemi Kehinde, FactCheckHub editor

Resources

South Africa Election Information Hub

South Africa is preparing for crucial national elections at the end of May 2024, thirty years since it became a constitutional democracy. To help cut through the noise, Africa Check has brought together all its election resources in one place.

Senegal election information hub

The February 2024 presidential election in Senegal was considered one of the most important in the country's democratic history. Africa Check and its partners, united in the Fact-Checking Alliance #SaytuSEN2024, fact-checked the public interest claims made by candidates running for office.

Nigeria Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC)

The Nigeria Fact-checkers’ Coalition, an alliance of 12 fact-checking news and research organisations, including CDD Fact-check, Dubawa, FactCheckHub, Cable Check, RoundCheck, Africa Check and others, verified statements made by politicians and the false narratives shared online.

Special thanks to

This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.

Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.