Growing Concerns Over Fake News and Its Impact on Democracy
Members of Parliament have expressed growing concerns over the increasing prevalence of fake news, warning that it is distorting public policy and threatening democratic processes. This issue has sparked international attention as the spread of misinformation continues to rise globally.
In a significant move, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the “African Initiative,” a Russian organization operating as a news agency, along with three of its leaders. These actions were taken due to their involvement in a hybrid influence campaign across Africa. The UK's decision, implemented on July 18, 2025, was based on a report published in June by VIGINUM, the French government’s watchdog against foreign information manipulation, in collaboration with the UK Foreign Office and the European Union External Action Service.
The Role of Digital Age in Spreading Misinformation
Luveve lawmaker Descent Bajila acknowledged the serious implications of fake news, particularly in the digital age where misinformation spreads rapidly. He emphasized that fake news can distort public policy and hinder the implementation of key development programs. According to Bajila, it is crucial for public representatives to understand the current state of information, the speed at which it spreads, and to develop tools and systems to counteract fake news effectively.
Bajila added that while it is challenging to keep up with the patterns of misinformation, continuous efforts are essential to set the record straight, uncover the truth, and use that truth to combat fake news.
Senator Ritah Ndlovu also highlighted the damaging effects of false information on democracy. She described fake news, disinformation, and misinformation as a cancer that must be addressed immediately. Ndlovu urged media outlets and regulatory authorities to ensure they fulfill their oversight roles, guaranteeing that only credible journalists are involved in media practices.
The African Initiative: A Front for Russian Intelligence
According to the VIGINUM report, the African Initiative is not an independent news outlet but a front for Russian intelligence operations and digital disinformation strategies. The 40-page report titled "African Initiative: Anatomy of a State-Controlled Influence Operation" revealed the group's tactics, ranging from AI-driven fake media to grassroots infiltration via local NGOs.
The report called for greater coordination among African media regulators, civil society groups, and international watchdogs to counter what it described as a long-term soft power war. A member of the parliamentary committee on media, Desire Moyo, stressed the need to guide against fake news to protect democracy. He noted that in the context of Zimbabwe, where political factions, economic decay, and social disintegration are prevalent, misinformation has become a catalyst for political degeneration.
Tactics and Operations of the African Initiative
Established in Moscow in September 2023, the African Initiative is suspected of being a front for Russian intelligence services. It combines overt public diplomacy with covert information manipulation to exploit discontent and exacerbate divides. The group also promotes the “Africa Corps,” the successor to the Wagner Group.
Individuals sanctioned by the UK include those linked to “Project Lakhta,” a digital influence operation founded by the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Artyom Kureyev, the Editor-in-Chief of the African Initiative, and Viktor Lukovenko, a liaison officer for the group's local offices, are among those sanctioned. Lukovenko, who is linked to the Russian Military Intelligence (GRU), was previously convicted in Russia for a racially motivated murder and was arrested in Kyrgyzstan in April 2025 on suspicion of recruiting mercenaries.
Anna Zamareyeva, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, was previously a spokesperson for the PMC Wagner Centre from 2022 to 2023.
Expanding Influence Through Local Networks
The African Initiative maintains a network of local NGOs in countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, facilitated by local employees to amplify pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives. It also builds long-term influence through community relationships by organizing sporting, cultural, and health events.
One of its key tools is “Al-Freak,” an information manipulation set (IMS) that uses deceptive, AI-generated content on pseudo-media websites. This content, which includes images, text, and video, is amplified through inauthentic X accounts and other methods. Investigators also identified a sophisticated system called “AI-Freak,” which uses AI-generated content to create fake images, text, and videos across multiple pseudo-media sites.
Evidence of Russian involvement includes Russian language settings and Cyrillic script in the back-end code of these sites. The group has also launched a mobile social app called “AFree” as an alternative to Western platforms, heavily promoted in Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Morocco.