2024/12/15 by Dries Putter · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Misinformation and Its Impacts #Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
paper · doi:10.1080/18335330.2024.2440873
openalex publication_date 2024/12/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
Cognitive warfare and counterintelligence are critical elements of Africa's security strategies. This article examines their interplay in the diverse African context and develops the concept of content as a tool used by state and non-state actors in systematic cognitive warfare campaigns to erode public trust in government institutions and societal resilience. Meanwhile, counterintelligence efforts focus from a defensive perspective on mitigating the effects of cognitive warfare and offensively employing similar tactics against threats actors. The cognitive warfare-counterintelligence nexus shapes intelligence collection, disinformation, propaganda and subversive activities, destabilising African societies. Examples from Nigeria, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Egypt, Kenya Zimbabwe and Uganda highlight how these concepts intersect in various contexts, impacting governance, conflict resolution and regional stability. Understanding this interplay is crucial for developing comprehensive strategies to address security threats and safeguard the integrity of African content ecosystems. Strategies should be inclusive of international collaboration, education, intelligence exchange, capacitating national counterintelligence capabilities and secure cyber-related critical infrastructure.