Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire are grappling with a severe form of gendered disinformation, specifically targeting women in the public sphere. This concerning trend has been detailed in a recent report, “Gendered Disinformation in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire: Form, Impact, and Stakes,” authored by Sadia Mandjo, a journalist specializing in women’s rights in Africa. Mandjo presented her findings, highlighting how this digital aggression is distinct and damaging.

The study indicates that a striking 61% of women surveyed across both Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire have experienced gendered disinformation. Mandjo explained that this type of misinformation differs significantly from that aimed at men. “Gendered disinformation specifically targets women, not by challenging their ideas, but by attacking their bodies, sexuality, and private lives,” she emphasized.

Mandjo highlighted a stark asymmetry in these attacks. While false narratives targeting men often revolve around political, economic, or diplomatic matters, disinformation campaigns against women—whether politicians, journalists, or activists—consistently undermine their legitimacy through assaults on their morality or intimate lives.

The “72 Hours” Phenomenon: A Unique Challenge in Senegal

In Senegal, women have identified a specific form of online harassment they term the “72 hours” phenomenon. Mandjo described this as a digital lynching unique to the nation. “For 72 hours, a female activist, journalist, or politician is selected, and her life is meticulously scrutinized. However, instead of revealing truth, information is distorted, photomontages are created, and her life story is rewritten to portray her as immoral,” Mandjo elaborated.

While some Senegalese male politicians also face similar attacks, the intensity and nature of the violence are significantly amplified when targeting women. The report clearly states the ultimate objective: “The goal is to silence them. The goal is to force them out of the digital public space.”

The tactics used to discredit women vary depending on their public roles. Senegalese female politicians are often accused of securing their positions through intimate relationships with party officials. Women journalists are portrayed as being paid by foreign entities for their reporting. Activists, meanwhile, face accusations of receiving Western funding. Mandjo noted, “Their ideas are never the target; instead, the attacks consistently aim to undermine their legitimacy.”

Direct Impact on Women’s Public Participation

The study regrettably confirms the effectiveness of this digital violence. Numerous women interviewed for the report admitted to self-censoring their online presence or even withdrawing entirely from certain platforms. Mandjo warned, “Stepping away from digital platforms is not a trivial act; it signifies a retreat from public life itself.”

The women most susceptible to these attacks are those actively engaged in the public sphere: politicians, journalists, feminist activists, public figures, influencers, and artists. “These are the visible women, the women who assert themselves, the women who claim their rightful place in society,” she summarized.

The report identifies the perpetrators of these campaigns as “primarily men” between the ages of 17 and 45, often from the same country as their female targets. Intriguingly, the study also noted the involvement of some women, whom it describes as “patriarchal women.”

Mandjo also highlighted the accountability of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. She explained that a significant amount of harmful content is created in local languages, like Wolof, yet these platforms often lack the functionality to report such content effectively. This deficiency arises because “platforms are developed in the West and lack awareness of local realities,” she stated.

Official Recognition Demanded in Senegal

A key recommendation from the report directly urges Senegalese and Ivorian authorities to officially recognize digital violence against women as a form of gender-based violence. This status would place it on par with sexual violence, femicides, and physical assault.

Mandjo argued that such recognition would pave the way for specific legislation and enable the training of police officers in commissariats to properly handle these complaints. Furthermore, official acknowledgment would facilitate the education of magistrates and judges in addressing these cases, alongside fostering digital literacy and fact-checking awareness programs.

The report’s author emphasized that digital violence is not an isolated issue but rather “a continuum of the violence women face outside the digital realm.” The alarming statistics of violence against women in homes and on the streets of Senegal are thus mirrored and amplified within the digital space.