Main content

My fake news whodunnit

When a name very similar to journalist Michelle Madsen鈥檚 is used in a fake news hatchet job on a Senegalese politician, she tries to hunt down who was behind it.

When a name very similar to journalist Michelle Madsen鈥檚 was used as the cover for a fake news hatchet job on a Senegalese politician, she found herself entangled in a web of deception that she is seeking to unravel.

In the run up to Senegal鈥檚 hard-fought presidential election last year, a story surfaced accusing a candidate, Ousmane Sonko, of securing 鈥渇inancial assistance鈥 from a European oil company in exchange for oil contracts. The article was attributed to a journalist called 鈥淢ichelle Damsen鈥.

The controversial accusations made waves in Senegal, but no "Michelle Damsen" could be found. Michelle Madsen, a British journalist who investigates big companies and corruption in Africa, received a barrage of messages trying to verify the story instead. Despite Michelle denying any involvement, and a full retraction from the website which first published the story, the allegations levelled at Mr Sonko were reported widely, accompanied by additional documents and 鈥減roof鈥 of bribes he denies taking.

Who wanted to smear Sonko? Who is behind 鈥淢ichelle Damsen鈥檚鈥 byline? Could it have been one of Michelle鈥檚 contacts? Was this part of a wider disinformation campaign in Senegal鈥檚 election? Michelle travels to Senegal to find out.

(Illustration by George Wafula /大象传媒 African Digital)

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Wed 17 Jun 2020 23:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Jun 2020 02:06GMT
  • Sun 14 Jun 2020 13:06GMT
  • Sun 14 Jun 2020 14:06GMT
  • Wed 17 Jun 2020 09:06GMT
  • Wed 17 Jun 2020 23:06GMT