Facebook Expands Fact-Checking Programme to 10 More African Countries

Facebook has announced the expansion of its third-party fact-checking initiative to ten additional African nations, in collaboration with Agence France-Presse (AFP) and several regional media partners.

The new rollout will cover:

• Ethiopia, Zambia, Somalia, and Burkina Faso – in partnership with AFP

• Uganda and Tanzania – with Pesa Check and AFP

• Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast – with France 24 and AFP

• Guinea – with France 24

• Ghana – with Dubawa, a Nigerian fact-checking platform

With this expansion, Facebook’s fact-checking programme now reaches 15 African countries.

“This growth demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling misinformation across the continent,” said Kojo Boakye, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Africa. “Fact-checking alone is not the full solution, but it is a crucial part of our broader efforts to ensure people see accurate information on Facebook.”

AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the agency’s extensive African presence.

“We will leverage our wide network of bureaus and journalists to combat misinformation and improve access to reliable news,” he said.

Eric Mugendi, Managing Director of Pesa Check, noted that social media has transformed how Africans consume and interpret news.

“This project allows us to expand our fact-checking in English and Swahili to debunk false claims that could lead to real-world harm,” he added.

AFP currently operates fact-checkers in nearly 30 countries, working in nine languages worldwide.

The initiative is part of Facebook’s broader strategy to curb misinformation, strengthen media literacy, and support trustworthy journalism across Africa.