Disinformation Campaigns Target Africa’s Mining Sector, Reaching 300 Million Users

Sophisticated disinformation networks targeting Africa’s critical minerals sector have reached nearly 300 million users across six countries, according to a new intelligence report released Monday.

London-based Refute, which specializes in AI-powered intelligence monitoring, has identified 2,778 bot accounts responsible for more than 22 million engagements focused on mining operations throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Mali, Rwanda, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.

The findings, published in the “Africa Decoded” report, reveal how relatively small but coordinated networks can generate outsized influence by amplifying narratives strategically tied to geopolitical developments and market-moving events in the minerals sector.

“Africa’s critical minerals are at the center of the most consequential geopolitical contest of our time,” said Refute CEO Tom Garnett. “The bot activity we track in the mining sector maps to commodity price spikes, regulatory decisions, and corporate disputes with disturbing precision.”

The research demonstrates a clear pattern where disinformation activity closely tracks real-world triggers. Notable spikes included a 114% increase in bot activity in Mali following the military junta’s October 2025 decision to revoke more than 90 foreign exploration permits. Even more dramatic was a 417% surge in early 2026 coinciding with Barrick Mining’s resumption of production at its Loulo-Gounkoto complex, a flagship gold mining operation in the region.

Gold-related narratives attracted the highest bot engagement overall, with 351 accounts specifically mobilizing during periods of rising prices—suggesting coordination between disinformation campaigns and potential market manipulation strategies.

The report highlights the sophisticated nature of these operations, which can quickly cross borders and repurpose real incidents to influence public opinion elsewhere. Following a tailings dam collapse at a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia in February 2025, researchers detected a coordinated bot network operating from Kenya that swiftly reframed the incident to stir opposition to Chinese investment in neighboring countries within days.

Africa’s strategic position in the global minerals market makes it particularly vulnerable to such information warfare. The continent holds approximately 30% of global mineral reserves critical to the energy transition, including cobalt, lithium, manganese, and rare earth elements essential for electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and other green technologies.

This mineral wealth has placed Africa at the center of intensifying competition among global powers, particularly the United States, China, and Russia, each seeking to secure access to these resources as the world shifts toward renewable energy sources and battery technologies.

Industry analysts note that the findings underscore significant operational and reputational risks for mining companies operating across Africa. As disinformation campaigns become increasingly targeted, responsive, and sophisticated, traditional corporate communications approaches may prove insufficient to counter false narratives that can quickly reach hundreds of millions of users.

“These aren’t just random social media posts—we’re seeing highly coordinated efforts timed precisely to maximize market impact or influence government decision-making,” explained Darren Winters, a minerals security analyst at Global Resource Monitor. “Mining companies need to understand they’re operating in an information battleground as much as a physical one.”

The situation creates particular challenges for Western mining companies, which often face stricter compliance and transparency requirements than state-backed competitors. Several major mining firms, including Rio Tinto and Anglo American, have recently expanded their digital monitoring capabilities to track disinformation targeting their African operations.

For African governments, the proliferation of mining-focused disinformation complicates efforts to develop regulatory frameworks that balance foreign investment with domestic interests. Several countries, including Ghana and Botswana, have recently established specialized units to counter disinformation targeting their extractive sectors.

As global demand for critical minerals continues to accelerate, experts warn that information manipulation targeting Africa’s resource sector will likely intensify, requiring new approaches to corporate security and communications that specifically address disinformation risks.