Introduction

The enabling environment in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is under growing strain. Amid security crises, political transitions and expanding military influence, human rights defenders, journalists and digital activists are increasingly targeted — not only offline, but online.

For women and young activists in particular, the digital sphere has become a paradoxical battlefield. Social media platforms serve as powerful megaphones capable of bypassing state censorship — yet they also function as shadow tribunals where harassment, gender-based violence and disinformation are widespread.

Across the Sahel, cyberviolence, politically motivated digital repression and coordinated disinformation campaigns are converging to restrict online civic space and silence dissent.

Burkina Faso: Cyberharassment as a Growing Threat

In Burkina Faso, digital platforms have created new opportunities for civic engagement — but also new risks in the Sahel.

A national survey found that 300 women and girls responded to questions about digital harassment, underscoring the scale of the problem.

The government’s Central Brigade for the Fight Against Cybercrime (BCLCC) recorded 51 cyberharassment cases in 2024 — 23 involving women and 28 men. However, police officials acknowledge that these figures likely underrepresent reality. Many women are reluctant to file complaints due to stigma, fear of retaliation, or lack of trust in protection mechanisms.

Women activists and digital content creators face:

• Coordinated harassment campaigns
• Doxxing (publication of private addresses or phone numbers)
• Gendered disinformation
• “Revenge porn” and fabricated sexual content aimed at discrediting them

In deeply conservative contexts, such attacks are not merely reputational — they can expose women to real-world violence.

Mali: When Online Threats Become Offline Intimidation

In Mali, blogger and activist Fatouma Harber describes years of cyberviolence:

“I have been subjected to insults, trolling, threats, scams and hacking.”

She explains that women activists are increasingly pushed out of political debate:

“For women, we see withdrawal from political discussions. Experts, journalists and influencers are driven out of public debate. Many self-censor or leave digital platforms to protect themselves.”

The line between online and offline intimidation has largely disappeared.

Human rights defender Alkassoum Yattara reports receiving anonymous threats and summonses to government offices following his work documenting human rights abuses. Digital surveillance, intimidation and judicial pressure are increasingly intertwined.

Niger: Cybercrime Laws as Political Tools

In Niger, activist Moulaye Lamine describes constant online harassment and smear campaigns. His main strategy for coping is disengagement:

“I try not to respond.”

Blogger Mariama Ousmane reports identity theft through fake accounts, online insults and coordinated harassment. She documents incidents and reports them to platforms and authorities but acknowledges that protection mechanisms remain limited.

While Niger enforces cybercrime legislation rigorously, activists argue that such laws can also be used selectively — sometimes serving as political tools against dissenting voices.

According to Ousmane, digital violence reduces freedom of expression and discourages women and youth from participating fully in public life.

Disinformation and the Role of “Cyber Guardians”

Civil society responses are emerging. For example, Search for Common Ground supports initiatives known as “cyber guardians” — online actors who:

• Monitor and fact-check misinformation
• Expose fake accounts
• Document harassment
• Promote digital literacy

These grassroots efforts demonstrate that civil society is not passive — but structural protections remain insufficient.

A Regional Pattern: Shrinking Civic Space Online

Across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, similar dynamics are visible:

• Political transitions and emergency regimes
• Expanded use of cybercrime legislation
• Gender-based digital violence
• Surveillance and intimidation
• Weak accountability mechanisms

Although laws exist to combat cybercrime, enforcement often fails to protect victims effectively — particularly women and young activists. Meanwhile, digital repression risks becoming normalized.

What Needs to Change?

To safeguard the enabling environment for civil society in West Africa’s digital sphere, several measures are urgent:

1. Strengthen complaint and protection mechanisms for victims of cyberharassment
2. Provide sustained funding for digital security training for activists
3. Develop regional frameworks to combat gender-based online violence
4. Ensure cybercrime laws are not misused to silence dissent
5. Promote accountability and transparency from digital platforms

Conclusion

The digital sphere in West Africa is not merely a communication tool — it is a strategic civic space where participation, dissent and democratic engagement unfold.

For women and youth in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, digital platforms remain powerful tools for expression and mobilization. Yet the growing scale of harassment and disinformation underscores the urgent need for stronger protection, solidarity networks and accountability mechanisms.

Without meaningful safeguards, online civic space risks becoming another frontier of repression.

This article is written as part of the Forus journalism fellowship programme. Learn more here