One of the most persistent forms of election misinformation in Africa is the claim that political parties enlist foreigners to vote illegally, says Keegan Leech of Fact-Check Africa. These allegations, often targeting vulnerable groups such as migrants, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ communities, fuel public fears and spread rapidly on social media.

“This is a very common trend across multiple countries,” Leech said. “It’s easy to fabricate allegations that a party is issuing fake ID documents or smuggling in foreign voters. Once these claims gain traction, they are difficult to disprove.”

Another widespread tactic is the use of fake endorsements. While deepfake technology is often used globally to create false endorsements from celebrities, in African elections, misinformation typically involves manipulated videos or images of local public figures.

“These fabricated endorsements give political messages credibility and influence voter sentiment,” Leech explained. “Misconceptions about voter registration, ballot counting, and the role of election observers are also commonly used to create doubt about election legitimacy.”

Fact-Check Africa collaborated with Namibia Fact Check during the 2024 national elections. The two organisations are now hosting an election overview at the House of Democracy in Windhoek.