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ABSTRACT
Africa-based separatist groups have long deployed propaganda to woo the international community, seeking external support for their respective causes. In the digital age, they increasingly spread this propaganda over social media. Characterised by misinformation and disinformation, this propaganda has, in some cases, proven disruptive to the public diplomacy and nation building efforts of specific African countries. The propaganda has often triggered muscular – but not always efficacious – state responses. Using primary and secondary sources, this article investigates the online disinformation/misinformation campaigns of two separatist groups, namely the Ambazonia Defence Forces (of Cameroon) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (of Nigeria). Specifically, the article critically examines how the above mentioned separatist groups’ use of online propaganda is a challenge to the official diplomacy of Cameroon and Nigeria, and explores the extent to which the online responses of these governments to this phenomenon have been effective.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
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37 Human Right Watch 2020, ‘Horrific Video Shows Cameroon Killing Separatists.
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40 Nounkeu, Christian Tatchou, ‘Facebook and Fake News in the ‘Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon,’ African Journalism Studies, 41, no.3, (2020): 30-31.
41 Nanche, Billa Robert, ‘Uprising and Human Rights Abuses in Southern Cameroon-Ambazonia,’ In Nanche B. (ed), Education, Human Right and Peace in Sustainable Development, (London: Intech, 2020), 1–22.
42 Nganji and Cockburn, ‘Use of Twitter in Cameroon Anglophone Crisis,’ 283.
43 Arne Gillis, ‘Cameroon: White Washing the Dictator,’ Zam Magazine, December 25, 2020, https://www.zammagazine.com/perspectives/blog/1071-cameroon-white-washing-the-dictator.
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47 Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Peace and Security Report: Cameroon Conflict Insight. (Addis Ababa: Institute for Peace and Security, 2020), 3.
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56 Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Peace and Security Report, 12.
57 Nwofe and Goodall,‘The Web as an Alternative Communication Resource.’
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65 International Crisis Group, Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks, Africa Report, no. 272, (2019).
66 Some of these presidential communications are analysed by Neh Claudia Nso in her study titled ‘A Cluster Analysis of Social Media Use in the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon,’ (MA Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2020).
67 Neh, ‘Analysis of Social Media Use in the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon,’ 106.
68 Freedom House, Freedom on the Net: Nigeria (London: Freedom House, 2020), 5.
69 International Centre for Not-For-Profit Law, Briefer: Nigeria. Human Rights Implications of Nigeria’s Twitter Ban (New York: International Centre for Not-For-Profit Law, 2021).
70 Ndongmo, Kathleen, Cameroon Digital Rights Landscape Report (London: Institute of Development Studies, 2021).
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73 Stop Blabla, Non cette Vidéo Gore n’a pas été Tournée en ‘Ambazonie,’ Stopblabla, August 3, 2021, https://www.stopblablacam.com/culture-et-societe/2506-1853-non-cette-video-gore-n-a-pas-ete-tournee-en-ambazonie.
74 International Crisis Group, Easing Cameroon’s Ethno-Political Tensions, On and Offline (Africa Report 295, London: International Crisis Group, 2020), 19.
75 McAllister, Edward, ‘Facebook Cameroon’s Problem: Stop Online Hate Stoking Conflict,’ Reuters, November 4, 2018.
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78 Otuonye, Chinonye A., ‘The Right for Languages: An Exploration of the Nigerian State’s Response to Protest Groups in Southern Nigeria,’ Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, 13, no. 2, (2019): 106–115.
79 Soh, ‘A Cluster Analysis of Social Media Use in the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon,’ 73.
80 Soh, ‘A Cluster Analysis of Social Media Use in the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon,’ 73.
81 Ngange and Moki, ‘Understanding Social Media’s Role,’ 64.
82 Ngange and Moki, ‘Understanding Social Media’s Role,’ 64.
83 Okpi, Analysis, 2020
84 Ngange and Moki, ‘Understanding Social Media’s Role,’ 64.
85 International Crisis Group. Easing Cameroon’s Ethno-Political Tensions on and Offline. Africa Report no.295,’ (Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2020).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Floribert Patrick C Endong
Floribert Patrick C. Endong holds a Ph.D in Media Arts from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He teaches media related courses at the Department of Performing Arts and Cinematography, (IBAF), University of Dschang in Cameroon. His areas of interests include digital cultures, international communication, branding, media laws and political communications. He is author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in the above areas of interests. He edited Exploring the Role of Social Media in Transnational Advocacy, among other books.