Conflict and Online Space in the Sahel: Challenges and Recommendations
Brussels: Search for Common Ground (2022), 5 pp.
"With the growth of new social media users across the Sahel, existing conflict dynamics are increasingly manifesting. Sahelians are entering a complex digital space. The ability of individuals and communities to adapt to online/offline conflict dynamics will define the future of conflict in the region. Search for Common Ground convened West African academics and practitioners in Bamako, Mali in October 2021, to analyze conflict trends and opportunities for peacebuilding in digital spaces in the central Sahel region (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger)." (At a glance, page 1)
Mis/disinformation is a key challenge in Sahelian social media experiences -- Online users often end up in echo chambers, which limits the diversity of perspectives and reinforces divisions -- The relationship between the government and the governed is shifting online -- Violent extremist groups exploit new opportunities for recruitment and mobilization -- There is a gendered digital divide, and when women access online spaces, they face a higher chance of harassment -- Recommendations to address online conflict dynamics: enhance digital literacy, responsible media consumption, and conflict-sensitive use of online tools among the Sahelian population, especially through digital empowerment of women, youth, and children; deploy digital, programming, and policy tools to combat mis/disinformation, hate speech, and extremist mobilization online and offline; foster citizen-government exchange, enhance social cohesion, and transform governance using digital tools.
