Unable to voice alternatives through more formal decision-making processes and street protests, people and activists in Africa’s authoritarian polities have turned to social media. One strategy African dictators like Yoweri Museveni of Uganda have fielded is simply to deactivate social media of opponents and create fake ones that support their government. Silja Fröhlich had this information in Deutsche Welle. Here is an excerpt:

In early 2021, Facebook (Meta) deactivated more than 20 accounts linked to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Shortly afterward, Twitter also followed suit, closing 11% of the nearly 3,500 accounts worldwide that allegedly spread pro-government propaganda.

Thus in total, almost 440 Ugandan social media accounts close to the Ugandan government have been blocked by social media networks in the East African country to date.

Both Twitter and Facebook accuse the Ugandan government of using social media as a tool politicians to manipulate public opinion, spread disinformation, and intimidate the opposition. Facebook also stated that as part of its strategy, the Ministry of Information had been using “fake and duplicate accounts” for propaganda purposes.

Read the full article here.