The Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel has officially opened in Praia, Cabo Verde, bringing together over 150 delegates, including Government representatives, civil society actors, policymakers and international partners. The three-day event, running from September 3 to 5, 2025, seeks to address the growing threats posed by disinformation, hate speech and information manipulation across the region.
The opening ceremony, held at the National Assembly Hall, featured high-level keynote addresses. Among the dignitaries were Dr. Lourenço Lopes, Assistant Secretary of State to the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde; Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services of The Gambia; Sylvie Coudray, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Freedom of Expression, Media Development and Media and Information Literacy; Hon. Daniel O. Sando, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs of Liberia; Patricia Portela de Souza, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cabo Verde; and Hon. Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
Representing Sierra Leone, Emmanuel Abubakar Benoni Turay, Acting Director of Government Information Services at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, delivered a keynote contribution under the theme: “Nurturing Societal Trust and Safeguarding Information Integrity During Conflict, Crisis and Elections – Challenges and Strategic Responses in West Africa and the Sahel.”
Speaking ahead of his address, Emmanuel Turay emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional cooperation. “This conference is not only a platform for dialogue it is a call to action. Sierra Leone stands ready to work with regional partners to safeguard the integrity of our information ecosystems and uphold the democratic values that bind our nations together,” he stated.
Also forming part of Sierra Leone’s delegation is Dr. Ibrahim Sega Shaw, Chairman of the Right to Access Information Commission, reflecting the country’s dedication to transparency and democratic governance.
The first day of the conference featured expert panel discussions examining emerging technologies and their role in disinformation, structural threats to information integrity and the importance of media literacy in building democratic resilience. Breakout sessions explored practical approaches, including proactive data disclosure, regulatory innovations and strategies to mitigate the social impacts of false narratives.
Central to the deliberations is the development of a harmonized regional framework on information integrity, one that promotes human rights, transparency and equal access to information of public interest.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education has commended the Government of Cabo Verde, UNESCO, ECOWAS and other partners for convening what it described as a landmark gathering. Sierra Leone has pledged to contribute meaningfully to the validation of the Praia Action Plan and the adoption of the Model Policy for Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.
The conference is widely regarded as a turning point in strengthening regional cooperation on countering disinformation and ensuring that information ecosystems in West Africa and the Sahel remain resilient, credible, and supportive of democratic governance.
