How False Images Shaped Sudan's Political Crises

Introduction

From the Sudanese Revolution of 2018–19 to the civil war that erupted in April 2023, social media became one of the country’s most important battlegrounds. Protest organisers, journalists and ordinary citizens relied on Facebook, WhatsApp, X and Telegram to share information when traditional media faced pressure or restrictions. The same conditions also made these platforms fertile ground for false identities, fabricated accusations, recycled videos and organised propaganda campaigns. In Sudan, many of the most influential deceptions were not completely invented stories but genuine photographs, clips or accounts stripped from their original context and repurposed to support political narratives.[Atlantic Council]atlanticcouncil.orgAtlantic Council Sudan's precarious information environment and the fightAtlantic CouncilSudan's precarious information environment and the fight…August 8, 2023 — 8 Aug 2023 — During the 2018–19 protests tha…Published: August 8, 2023

What made these claims powerful was not simply their falsity. Internet shutdowns, distrust of official institutions, rapidly changing events and intense political polarisation created an environment in which verification was difficult and speed often mattered more than accuracy. As a result, controlling the first version of a story became almost as important as controlling events on the ground.[Atlantic Council]atlanticcouncil.orgAtlantic Council Sudan's precarious information environment and the fightAtlantic CouncilSudan's precarious information environment and the fight…August 8, 2023 — 8 Aug 2023 — During the 2018–19 protests tha…Published: August 8, 2023

False Identities and Accusations During the Uprising

The protest movement that began in late 2018 depended heavily on social media after state authorities restricted traditional reporting and periodically disrupted internet access. At the same time, competing actors attempted to shape public perceptions through online campaigns portraying demonstrators as violent, foreign-backed or linked to armed groups. Researchers examining Sudan’s information environment have documented how state-linked online operations sought to undermine sympathy for protesters by spreading misleading narratives and targeted accusations.[Atlantic Council]atlanticcouncil.orgAtlantic Council Sudan's precarious information environment and the fightAtlantic CouncilSudan's precarious information environment and the fight…August 8, 2023 — 8 Aug 2023 — During the 2018–19 protests tha…Published: August 8, 2023

One recurring tactic involved the use of anonymous or misleading accounts presenting themselves as ordinary citizens, activists or independent commentators. These accounts amplified claims that the protest movement was secretly directed by hostile factions rather than emerging from widespread public dissatisfaction. Such accusations often relied on selective images, unverifiable screenshots or claims attributed to unnamed sources. In a climate of uncertainty, many users encountered these narratives before reliable reporting could confirm or reject them.[Atlantic Council]atlanticcouncil.orgAtlantic Council Sudan's precarious information environment and the fightAtlantic CouncilSudan's precarious information environment and the fight…August 8, 2023 — 8 Aug 2023 — During the 2018–19 protests tha…Published: August 8, 2023

The problem was compounded by communication disruptions. Internet restrictions reduced the ability of journalists and civil society groups to check viral claims in real time. Rumours could circulate widely through Facebook groups and WhatsApp networks before corrections reached comparable audiences. The result was not necessarily persuasion of everyone exposed to the content; rather, it generated confusion about whom to trust and what was actually happening.[Wikipedia]WikipediaSudanese revolutionSudanese revolution

How Disinformation Survived the Revolution

The removal of Omar al-Bashir in 2019 did not end Sudan’s online information wars. Instead, the transition period saw the emergence of new networks, websites and social media campaigns competing to define the meaning of the revolution and the future of the state. Analysts have traced the growth of organised digital influence efforts to this period, when political factions increasingly recognised social media as a tool for shaping public opinion.[Tahrir Institute]timep.orgbeyond the battlefield sudans virtual propaganda warzoneTahrir InstituteBeyond the Battlefield: Sudan's Virtual Propaganda Warzone14 Jan 2025 — In particular, the rise of organized online disin…

A notable feature of this era was the blending of authentic political debate with coordinated manipulation. False stories rarely appeared in isolation. Instead, they were mixed with genuine grievances, partial truths and emotionally charged commentary. This made many claims difficult to categorise as straightforward hoaxes. Some narratives contained a kernel of truth but exaggerated events, misidentified participants or omitted crucial context.[Tahrir Institute]timep.orgbeyond the battlefield sudans virtual propaganda warzoneTahrir InstituteBeyond the Battlefield: Sudan's Virtual Propaganda Warzone14 Jan 2025 — In particular, the rise of organized online disin…

Sudanese fact-checking organisations increasingly emerged as a response. Groups such as Beam Reports and related fact-checking initiatives documented recurring patterns of coordinated misinformation, helping establish a local infrastructure for verification. Their investigations suggested that disinformation campaigns played a significant role in shaping political tensions leading up to the military coup of October 2021.[Dabanga Radio TV Online]dabangasudan.orgreport on misinformation in sudan fake news campaign prelude for coupDabanga Radio TV OnlineReport on misinformation in Sudan: fake news campaign…17 Jan 2023 — A report analysing the disinformation envir…

Coordinated Narratives After the Military Coup

Following the October 2021 coup, Sudan’s online information environment became even more polarised. Competing factions sought to present themselves as defenders of stability, democracy or national unity while portraying opponents as dangerous, corrupt or illegitimate. Researchers studying the period identified organised campaigns that promoted favourable narratives and attacked critics through coordinated posting behaviour.[Dabanga Radio TV Online]dabangasudan.orgreport on misinformation in sudan fake news campaign prelude for coupDabanga Radio TV OnlineReport on misinformation in Sudan: fake news campaign…17 Jan 2023 — A report analysing the disinformation envir…

The mechanics of these campaigns often resembled techniques seen elsewhere. Large numbers of accounts simultaneously pushed identical talking points, repeated slogans or amplified selected hashtags. Individual posts might appear spontaneous, but collectively they created the impression of broad public consensus. In many cases, the objective was less about convincing opponents than about dominating online conversation and drowning out competing voices.[Tahrir Institute]timep.orgbeyond the battlefield sudans virtual propaganda warzoneTahrir InstituteBeyond the Battlefield: Sudan's Virtual Propaganda Warzone14 Jan 2025 — In particular, the rise of organized online disin…

Foreign influence concerns also appeared during this period. Investigations by technology companies and journalists uncovered networks linked to external actors attempting to shape Sudanese political discourse through coordinated social media activity. These operations illustrated how Sudan’s transition became entangled with wider geopolitical competition and information warfare.[Rest of World]restofworld.orgRest of World Why Russia is using Facebook to launch disinformationRest of WorldWhy Russia is using Facebook to launch disinformation…November 24, 2021 — 24 Nov 2021 — The government has taken no actio…Published: November 24, 2021

Recycled Footage and False Captions During the War

When fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, the volume of misinformation increased dramatically. Videos claiming to show battlefield victories, atrocities or military advances spread rapidly across multiple platforms. Many were genuine recordings from entirely different conflicts, different countries or earlier periods of Sudanese history.[Africa Defense Forum]adf-magazine.comAfrica Defense Forum Sudan's Warring Sides Target Citizens with DigitalAfrica Defense Forum Sudan's Warring Sides Target Citizens with Digital

Several recurring patterns emerged:

The power of these claims came from timing. During major battles, audiences often wanted immediate information about who controlled particular neighbourhoods, bridges or military facilities. False content frequently appeared before journalists or humanitarian organisations could independently verify events. By the time corrections arrived, the original claim had often accumulated thousands of shares.[Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)]swp-berlin.orgmedia platforms, where competing actors deploy influence tactics, disinformation, and coordinated messaging to shape public perceptions a…

Fact-checkers repeatedly found that some of the most viral war-related posts contained real images attached to invented captions. A dramatic photograph from one place could become evidence for an entirely different event simply because viewers lacked the information needed to challenge the claim.[EBU Spotlight]spotlight.ebu.chSpotlight Sudan War Misinformation: RSF, AI Hoaxes, and SatelliteSpotlight Sudan War Misinformation: RSF, AI Hoaxes, and Satellite

A Parallel Battlefield of Influencers, Militias and Fact-Checkers

By 2024 and 2025, researchers increasingly described Sudan’s digital sphere as a “parallel battlefield”. Supporters of both the SAF and RSF used social media not only to report events but also to influence perceptions of legitimacy, military success and civilian suffering. Influencers, diaspora activists, military supporters and anonymous accounts all competed to define reality for audiences inside and outside Sudan.[Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)]swp-berlin.orgmedia platforms, where competing actors deploy influence tactics, disinformation, and coordinated messaging to shape public perceptions a…

The war produced a feedback loop between online and offline events. False allegations could inflame ethnic tensions, while propaganda portraying civilians as collaborators risked increasing real-world danger for those communities. Recent studies have warned that online hate speech and disinformation can contribute to violence, intimidation and humanitarian obstruction.[Thomson Foundation]thomsonfoundation.orghow disinformation is shaping sudan s conflict a new reporthow disinformation is shaping sudan s conflict a new report

At the same time, verification efforts became more sophisticated. Sudanese fact-checkers, international researchers and open-source investigators increasingly used geolocation, satellite imagery and metadata analysis to test viral claims. Reuters, AFP, the Centre for Information Resilience and other organisations demonstrated how digital evidence could be authenticated or debunked through systematic investigation rather than partisan assertion.[reuters.com]reuters.comsudan politics darfur commanderssudan politics darfur commanders

Why These Stories Matter

The most revealing lesson from Sudan’s revolution and civil war is that many influential falsehoods were not elaborate fabrications. They were often ordinary photographs, authentic videos or real events repackaged with misleading explanations. A clip filmed years earlier could become evidence of a current atrocity; an anonymous account could appear to represent a grassroots movement; a coordinated campaign could masquerade as spontaneous public opinion.[Wikipedia]WikipediaSudanese civil war (2023–presentSudanese civil war (2023–present

These episodes belong in the history of Sudanese deception not because they were amusing hoaxes but because they show how modern political struggles increasingly revolve around information itself. During moments of revolution, coup and war, the contest is frequently over who gets to tell the first story, whose version becomes accepted truth, and how long it takes investigators to catch up. In Sudan, that struggle has repeatedly shaped public understanding of events long before the historical record could be established.[atlanticcouncil.org]atlanticcouncil.orgAtlantic Council Sudan's precarious information environment and the fightAtlantic CouncilSudan's precarious information environment and the fight…August 8, 2023 — 8 Aug 2023 — During the 2018–19 protests tha…Published: August 8, 2023

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Endnotes

1. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sudanese revolution
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_revolution

2. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_civil_war_%282023%E2%80%93present%29

3. Source: instagram.com
Title: Cr TX2O2N mn
Link:https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrTX2O2N_mn/

4. Source: spotlight.ebu.ch
Title: Spotlight Sudan War Misinformation: RSF, AI Hoaxes, and Satellite
Link:https://spotlight.ebu.ch/p/sudans-forgotten-war-sparks-fake

5. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sudan Information Warfare (2023 present)
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan_Information_Warfare_%282023-present%29

6. Source: reuters.com
Title: sudan politics darfur commanders
Link:https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/sudan-politics-darfur-commanders/

7. Source: factcheck.afp.com
Link:https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.B8A62WE

8. Source: factcheck.afp.com
Link:https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.83RU2CQ

9. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/EastleighVoiceKe/posts/fact-check-how-fake-content-about-the-sudan-war-spreads/1352907856527765/

10. Source: atlanticcouncil.org
Title: Atlantic Council Sudan’s precarious information environment and the fight
Link:https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/democracy-derailed/

Published: August 8, 2023

11. Source: swp-berlin.org
Link:https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/mta-spotlight-70-the-weaponization-of-social-media-in-sudans-war

12. Source: timep.org
Title: beyond the battlefield sudans virtual propaganda warzone
Link:https://timep.org/2025/01/14/beyond-the-battlefield-sudans-virtual-propaganda-warzone/

13. Source: dabangasudan.org
Title: report on misinformation in sudan fake news campaign prelude for coup
Link:https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/report-on-misinformation-in-sudan-fake-news-campaign-prelude-for-coup

14. Source: restofworld.org
Title: Rest of World Why Russia is using Facebook to launch disinformation
Link:https://restofworld.org/2021/russia-sudan-facebook-disinformation/

Published: November 24, 2021

15. Source: adf-magazine.com
Title: Africa Defense Forum Sudan’s Warring Sides Target Citizens with Digital
Link:https://adf-magazine.com/2023/06/sudans-warring-sides-target-citizens-with-digital-disinformation-campaigns/

16. Source: swp-berlin.org
Link:https://www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/mta-spotlight-70-the-weaponization-of-social-media-in-sudans-war

17. Source: thomsonfoundation.org
Title: how disinformation is shaping sudan s conflict a new report
Link:https://www.thomsonfoundation.org/latest/how-disinformation-is-shaping-sudan-s-conflict-a-new-report/

18. Source: apnews.com
Link:https://apnews.com/article/181c12ded100933c2ec9ce23a89f97b5

Additional References

19. Source: ifri.org
Title: sudan wartime online propaganda
Link:https://www.ifri.org/en/studies/sudan-wartime-online-propaganda

20. Source: youtube.com
Title: Is Sudan ‘too complicated’ for your newsfeed? | Khalid Albaih | Real Talk
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YalYrSBc69w

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: Artificial Intelligence Exacerbates Sudan’s Civil War
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wrC2P8NLNc

22. Source: youtube.com
Title: How some AI developers are combatting malicious bots | BBC News
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ1jXrvJazY

23. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIJ08rH0Y6E

24. Source: arxiv.org
Title: arXiv Unveiling Coordinated Groups Behind White Helmets Disinformation
Link:https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.01313

25. Source: dfrlab.org
Link:https://dfrlab.org/region/sudan/feed/

26. Source: ifri.org
Link:https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/ifri_el_obeid_sudan_wartime_online_propaganda_2026.pdf

27. Source: blogs.lse.ac.uk
Link:https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2025/06/16/digital-propaganda-and-the-steering-of-mass-narratives-have-shaped-the-war-in-sudan/

28. Source: media-diversity.org
Title: disinformation and hate speech in sudans conflict dehumanising ethnic groups
Link:https://www.media-diversity.org/disinformation-and-hate-speech-in-sudans-conflict-dehumanising-ethnic-groups/