The Government of The Gambia, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has inaugurated the sub-region’s first National Misinformation and Disinformation Response Centre, in a coordinated effort to address the growing spread of false information.
The facility, launched on 25 April 2026 in Banjul, is expected to strengthen regional capacity to safeguard the information ecosystem, rebuild public confidence, and protect democratic processes from digital manipulation and misleading narratives.
At the launch, Vice President Muhammad Jallow and ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray described the initiative as a timely intervention in the fight against disinformation across West Africa.
Officials explained that the centre will support early warning systems, facilitate real-time fact-checking, and enhance collaboration among member states to track and respond to the rapid spread of false information across borders.
They further emphasised that the initiative is not designed to restrict or censor content but to promote access to accurate, verified, and reliable information for citizens across the region.
Authorities say the establishment of the centre marks a significant milestone in West Africa’s collective response to the rising threat of misinformation in the digital space, which continues to challenge governance, security, and public trust.
