How Can Libyans Counter Disinformation to Strengthen Peace?
Source: Peace News
In April, Libyan youth, media authorities, and election and government officials met in Benghazi to tackle a rising threat to peace: false news around the country’s elections. From April 21 to 23, over 85 participants took part in two forums organized by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Their goal was to “combating spread of disinformation and misinformation during elections and fostering community peace and cohesion,” UNSMIL stated in a news report.
This effort reflects a broader peacebuilding theme: involving ordinary citizens – especially youth, women, and civil society – in dialogue about disinformation and misinformation, and reducing violence in communities. Since Libya’s 2011 revolution, the country has fractured into regions and militias, and recent years of instability have left Libyan society deeply divided.
Now, as the country prepares to resolve issues surrounding hindered elections, accurate information and social cohesion are seen as essential to prevent violence. The Benghazi meetings offered a model of inclusive dialogue: Participants shared ideas on how to combat false information and how communities can work together to avoid conflict. As participants at the forum said, “Civil society can play a critical role in promoting stability and building trust between institutions and communities.”
Full article published by Peace News on 12 May 2025.
Image credits: Peace News
In April, Libyan youth, media authorities, and election and government officials met in Benghazi to tackle a rising threat to peace: false news around the country’s elections. From April 21 to 23, over 85 participants took part in two forums organized by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Their goal was to “combating spread of disinformation and misinformation during elections and fostering community peace and cohesion,” UNSMIL stated in a news report.
This effort reflects a broader peacebuilding theme: involving ordinary citizens – especially youth, women, and civil society – in dialogue about disinformation and misinformation, and reducing violence in communities. Since Libya’s 2011 revolution, the country has fractured into regions and militias, and recent years of instability have left Libyan society deeply divided.
Now, as the country prepares to resolve issues surrounding hindered elections, accurate information and social cohesion are seen as essential to prevent violence. The Benghazi meetings offered a model of inclusive dialogue: Participants shared ideas on how to combat false information and how communities can work together to avoid conflict. As participants at the forum said, “Civil society can play a critical role in promoting stability and building trust between institutions and communities.”
Full article published by Peace News on 12 May 2025.
Image credits: Peace News