Dakar to Host 2025 Africa Facts Summit, Uniting Continent Against Disinformation
The fourth edition of the Africa Facts Summit is set to take place from 1–2 October 2025 in Dakar, marking a historic moment as the event heads to a Francophone African country for the first time.
This milestone reflects the continent-wide growth of the Africa Facts network, which now includes organisations working in English, French, Arabic, Amharic, and more.
The summit, a key annual gathering of fact-checking organisations and information integrity experts, aims to strengthen Africa’s collective response to disinformation and safeguard media ecosystems.
“This historic first comes at a pivotal moment when challenges related to disinformation represent pressing issues for our media ecosystems,” said Valdez Onanina, Editor-in-Chief of Africa Check’s Francophone office.
The event will feature a range of sessions, including panel discussions, workshops, and “show-and-tell” showcases of tools and tactics for combating misinformation. Key topics include the role of AI in misinformation, disinformation in conflict zones, and coalition-based response strategies.
Despite rising challenges for information integrity professionals, Hlalani Gumpo, Head of Outreach and Impact at Africa Check, emphasized the “collective resilience” that continues to drive progress in the field: “The summit not only reaffirms our shared purpose but also strengthens opportunities for ongoing knowledge exchange.”
The summit will close with the prestigious African Fact-Checking Awards Gala, Africa’s longest-running award program recognizing excellence in fact-checking. Awards will be given in three categories:
- Working Journalist: Winner ($3,000), Runner-up ($1,500)
- Professional Fact-Checker: Winner ($3,000), Runner-up ($1,500)
- Student Journalist: Winner ($2,000), Runner-up ($1,000)
Tickets for the summit go on sale 21 July 2025.
