Information manipulation and foreign interference: a round table to prevent threats during elections in the DRC
A round table on information manipulation and foreign interference was recently launched by the Congolese Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, with the support of the European Union. This initiative aims to raise awareness among journalists about the challenges and threats linked to disinformation in the context of the upcoming presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Minister Muyaya underlined the importance of this round table in a pre-electoral context, due to the proliferation of false information during electoral campaigns. He also highlighted foreign interference, particularly that of Rwanda, in the Congolese media landscape, calling on journalists to equip themselves with the necessary tools to recognize and combat false information.
The European Union, represented by Mathilda Shedwin, charge d’affaires, underlined its commitment to the fight against disinformation throughout the world. She also recalled the European Union’s support for the Congolese media and the Congolese authorities in this area, in particular through the CSAC (Higher Audiovisual and Communication Council).
This round table comes at a crucial time for the Democratic Republic of Congo, one month before the start of the electoral campaign. It will allow journalists to better understand the issues linked to the manipulation of information and foreign interference, and to equip themselves with the knowledge necessary to disseminate quality information to the Congolese population.
The fight against disinformation has become a major issue in many countries, where elections are often the scene of propaganda and manipulation of information. It is therefore essential to train media professionals and strengthen their capacity to face these challenges. The round table organized in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an important step in this direction, and demonstrates the commitment of the Congolese government and the European Union to the promotion of reliable and transparent information.
In conclusion, information manipulation and foreign interference are major challenges to face in the context of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The round table set up by the Minister of Communication and Media, with the support of the European Union, will raise journalists’ awareness of these issues and strengthen their capacity to fight disinformation. This is an important step to guarantee transparent and democratic elections, where information plays a central role in the decision-making of Congolese voters.