Associated Incidents
Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'oei, wanted to take on 'fake analysts' on Nairobi's controversial Sudan issue. But he found himself on the receiving end of a deepfake. On Friday morning, he apologised for using a fake *CNN *video that he intended to use as evidence of the support Kenya has gained for hosting Sudanese rebels.
In the wake of the controversy over the presence of the Rapid Support Forces representatives in Nairobi, Kenya had initially argued that it was providing good offices for dialogue. It had also argued that it was not violating Sudanese sovereignty.
So Sing'oei, a lawyer who had stayed off social media as the controversy raged, decided to give his version of events.
What emerged was a fake AI-generated video showing a false analysis by *CNN *political commentator Fareed Zakaria purporting to support Kenya's involvement in Sudan's peace efforts. In fact, neither *CNN *nor Fareed had yet covered Kenya's Sudan issue.
Dr Sing'oei faced widespread backlash on Thursday after posting the deepfake video on his official X account, which falsely portrayed Kenya's involvement in Sudan peace diplomacy.
In a statement on Friday, he said he regretted the confusion the video caused and thanked everyone who flagged the fake video.
"I sincerely apologise for inadvertently posting an AI-generated video disguised as a genuine commentary from Fareed Zakaria of *CNN *on the search for peace in the Sudan conflict and Kenya's role in it. I regret any confusion this may have caused and thank everyone who flagged the video as a deepfake," he said.
By way of redemption, he said he was willing to go back to school to learn more about AI. He added that the ministry has been working with partners and tech companies to explore the potential of marking AI-generated content to ensure that such material doesn't look like human-generated material.
"Additionally, we are designing, with the collaboration of partners and big-tech companies, the School on AI Diplomacy (SAID) at the Foreign Services Academy---a programme I will attend---to equip policymakers better to navigate these emerging challenges," he wrote.
"My apologies once again and sincerely appreciate everyone's vigilance, correction, and candour."
The EastAfrican will not be republishing the fake video as a measure to stop the spread of false information.
But it shows how difficult it can be for government officials and the public to spot false information. A deepfake refers to media--typically video or audio--that has been manipulated using AI technology to create convincing but false representations of people saying or doing things they never actually did.
The PS post added to a series of diplomatic blunders by the Kenyan government in recent days amid public outcry. Ministers and lawmakers have in the past blundered on Sudan, causing public embarrassment.
It came as the last-minute cancellation of a press conference in Nairobi by the Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) sparked speculation that Nairobi was trying to contain the damage caused by the group's presence in Kenya.
The RSF first arrived in Nairobi on Sunday, promising to discuss and sign a charter with allied groups to form a parallel government of "peace and unity". They later changed their stance, saying they would only negotiate the political future of their country.
Sudan's military government, led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, protested the meeting and accused Kenya of an act of hostility.
RSF leaders, including Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemedti', like the Sudanese military leadership, are under US sanctions for war crimes and genocide in Sudan.
"We are in Kenya not to establish a government, nor are we here to govern from outside Sudan. When the time comes to form a government, we will return to Sudan, where the people will decide their future.
"Kenya serves as a neutral ground for facilitation and dialogue, helping us address the root causes of Sudan's crisis just as our leaders did in 2005 during negotiations between North and South Sudan," said Izzadin Al Safi, Special Advisor to the RSF Commander.