General public of West Africa
Incidents Harmed By
Incident 10911 Report
Purported Synthesia Avatars Used in Alleged Pro-Junta Deepfake Video Supporting Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso
2023-01-23
In January 2023, purportedly AI-generated videos reportedly began circulating on WhatsApp and social media showing avatars of apparent American pan-Africanists expressing support for Burkina Faso's military junta. The videos were reportedly created using the Synthesia platform. Synthesia later confirmed the videos violated its terms of service and banned the user. The source of the videos remains unidentified.
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Alleged Russian-Linked Deepfake Campaign Misattributes Infrastructure Projects to Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
2025-05-30
A reported wave of allegedly AI-generated and misleading media content promoting Burkina Faso's junta leader Ibrahim Traoré has been circulating. Investigators described videos attributing development projects to Traoré, reportedly part of a campaign by Russian-linked media to support junta regimes across the Sahel. Experts warned of the campaign's destabilizing effects and its potential to normalize military rule and foreign ideological influence.
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Purported AI-Enabled Pro-Russian Influence Campaign Centered on Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré and Disseminated Across African Media
2025-09-30
Reports describe a purported AI-enabled influence and disinformation campaign centered on Burkina Faso's junta leader Ibrahim Traoré. Dozens of purported AI-generated or AI-manipulated videos, allegedly produced by groups such as Black Rebellion and Univers Inspirant, have circulated widely across African media promoting pro-Traoré and pro-Russian narratives, with similar synthetic content appearing during regional conflicts and political events.
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