BBC uncovers massive online network spreading pro-UAE propaganda to shape public opinion in Africa

A sprawling online disinformation network promoting Emirati interests across Africa has been exposed in a major investigation by the BBC. The operation, which appears to be one of the largest coordinated influence campaigns ever documented on the continent, employs hundreds of fake social media accounts and websites designed to manipulate public opinion in favor of the United Arab Emirates.

The investigation revealed that the network operates across multiple African countries, with particularly strong presence in regions where the UAE has strategic economic and political interests. The sophisticated campaign targets local audiences with tailored content that portrays the Gulf state as a benevolent partner while simultaneously undermining rivals such as Qatar and Turkey.

According to digital forensics experts consulted by the BBC, the operation bears hallmarks of a state-sponsored influence campaign, though direct links to the Emirati government remain difficult to conclusively establish. The network employs advanced tactics to avoid detection, including the use of AI-generated profile pictures, coordinated posting schedules, and content that appears independently produced but follows consistent pro-UAE narratives.

“What makes this campaign particularly effective is how it blends into the local information ecosystem,” explained Dr. Amina Khoury, a disinformation researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute who reviewed the BBC’s findings. “Rather than obvious propaganda, it presents as grassroots African voices simply expressing positive views about Emirati investments and foreign policy.”

The campaign’s scope is remarkable in its breadth. Researchers identified over 300 interconnected social media accounts across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, alongside dozens of seemingly legitimate news websites that republish content favorable to UAE interests. These outlets frequently highlight Emirati development projects, port acquisitions, and diplomatic initiatives while minimizing criticism of the Gulf state’s human rights record or regional military interventions.

Particularly notable is the network’s focus on countries where the UAE has made significant infrastructure investments, including Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Ethiopia. In these regions, content often emphasizes the benefits of Emirati-funded ports, military bases, and development projects while criticizing the activities of regional competitors.

The BBC’s investigation tracked several of the fake personas to a digital marketing firm with ties to Abu Dhabi, though company representatives denied any involvement in disinformation activities when contacted. Digital footprints, including identical phrasing across supposedly unrelated accounts and coordinated amplification patterns, strongly suggest centralized management.

African media watchdogs have expressed concern about the operation’s potential impact on information integrity across the continent. “This represents a significant challenge for media literacy and democratic discourse,” said Emmanuel Adebayor, director of the Pan-African Center for Media Freedom. “When foreign actors can so effectively mask their influence operations as authentic African voices, it undermines citizens’ ability to make informed decisions about foreign partnerships.”

The UAE has dramatically expanded its economic and military footprint across Africa over the past decade, investing billions in strategic infrastructure projects from Somaliland to Senegal. These investments have coincided with increasing competition with Qatar and Turkey for influence across the continent, particularly following the 2017 Gulf diplomatic crisis.

When approached for comment, UAE diplomatic representatives denied government involvement in any disinformation activities, stating that “the UAE maintains transparent and mutually beneficial relationships with its African partners based on respect and shared interests.”

Social media platforms have begun removing accounts identified in the investigation for coordinated inauthentic behavior, though experts note that such networks typically regroup and adapt their tactics following exposure.

The discovery highlights the evolving nature of digital influence operations targeting Africa, a continent increasingly seen as a battleground for competing international interests. As African nations navigate relationships with global powers, the ability to identify and counter such sophisticated influence campaigns will likely become an increasingly important aspect of maintaining information sovereignty.