How disinformation is shaping Sudan's conflict: a new report

An evidence-based analysis on disinformation and information manipulation in Sudan's ongoing conflict is published today. (January 8th 2026).

Thomson Foundation's report, Information Manipulation in Sudan: A Baseline Assessment of Actors, Narratives and Tactics, illustrates how false and misleading narratives are being produced, amplified and used in ways that affect civilians, humanitarian efforts and prospects for peace.

It was launched during a webinar attended by journalists, civil society organisations, policymakers and international partners.

Why this report matters Since war erupted in April 2023, the deterioration of Sudan's media and information environment has created conditions for coordinated disinformation campaigns to expand. Drawing on social media analysis and qualitative research, the report finds that online manipulation has become a recurring element of the conflict.

The research indicates that online hate speech and false narratives can precede offline violence, contribute to the targeting of journalists and civil society organisations and disrupt humanitarian operations. In several cases, online campaigns dehumanising specific communities or portraying civilians as collaborators were followed by serious human rights violations on the ground.

The findings also point to increasingly complex methods, as armed actors and their allies use coordinated networks, platform-specific tactics and, in some cases, AI-generated content to increase reach and influence. Foreign actors and regional media ecosystems amplify these narratives further, demonstrating how Sudan's information challenges intersect with broader digital dynamics.

The findings confirm that information manipulation is not a side effect of Sudan's war but part of its strategy, says Meriem Bahri, Head of Programmes, Middle East & Africa, Thomson Foundation. Building digital resilience among journalists and civil society is critical to reducing harm, improving verification, and protecting the right to reliable information.

Strengthening digital resilience The baseline assessment forms part of the Sudan Digital Resilience project, implemented by the Thomson Foundation with support from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Sudanese media and journalists to analyse, track and respond to disinformation and wider digital harms in a conflict environment.

Through research, monitoring and targeted capacity-building, the project supports journalists and media workers to identify false narratives, improve verification practices and report responsibly on conflict-related issues. The baseline assessment provides a reference point for future analysis and ongoing responses to emerging information risks.

Part of a continuing global effort This report builds on the Thomson Foundation's ongoing work with journalists and media organisations to respond to disinformation, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. From safety and verification training to investigative reporting and digital security, addressing information manipulation continues to be an important focus of Thomson's media development work.

Sudan's experience illustrates how disinformation undermines the integrity of information ecosystems, erodes public trust, and challenges the work of journalists and media organisations. Responding to these challenges requires context-specific evidence, locally driven solutions and coordinated global engagement.

Access the report Information Manipulation in Sudan: A Baseline Assessment of Actors, Narratives and Tactics is available to read online and download. The report is intended for journalists, civil society organisations, policymakers, technology platforms and others seeking to understand how disinformation operates in conflict environments, and how it can be addressed.

Click here for the executive summary

Read and download the full report here

This research was conducted by the Thomson Foundation under the FCDO-funded Sudan Digital Resilience project, in collaboration with the multimedia and research platform Andariya and Sudanese journalists and civil society organisations.

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