Mashaweer News
Experts Warn Disinformation Has Become a Powerful Weapon in Sudan’s War
Khartoum – Mashaweer
- Experts have warned that disinformation is playing an increasingly influential role in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, describing it as a major weapon of war that shapes public opinion, fuels fear, complicates access to reliable information, and directly affects the humanitarian situation.
- Atif Abdelrahman, a fact-checking specialist, told Mashaweer that disinformation has become “a parallel weapon” in the conflict, systematically used to influence the public through the circulation of old or manipulated images and videos, as well as the widespread sharing of unverified information on social media platforms.
- He added that disruptions to telecommunications and internet services, combined with limited access to official sources, have accelerated the spread of rumors. In many cases, misleading content spreads much faster than media organizations and fact-checking platforms can verify and correct it.
- Digital media researcher Dr. Ahmed Abdallah told Mashaweer that disinformation not only shapes public opinion but can also influence people’s behavior and decisions during critical moments, such as whether to flee conflict areas or where to seek humanitarian assistance, potentially placing civilians at even greater risk.
- He stressed that addressing the problem requires close cooperation among media organizations, fact-checking initiatives, and civil society groups, alongside strengthening media and digital literacy so that the public can better distinguish reliable information from misleading content.
- Dr. Abdallah also urged social media users to verify information before sharing it and to rely on credible, professional sources. He emphasized that limiting the spread of disinformation is an essential part of protecting civilians and safeguarding the public’s right to accurate information during armed conflict.
- Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, Sudan has witnessed a significant increase in disinformation campaigns, with misleading images, videos, and inaccurate reports circulating about military operations, humanitarian conditions, and population displacement. This has prompted a growing number of media organizations and civil society groups to expand their fact-checking efforts and raise public awareness about the dangers of false information.
