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.”
Combating Election Disinformation
At the first forum, which lasted two days, participants tackled head-on the problem of fake news. Around 70 people attended, 35% of them women. Representatives of Libya’s election commission (HNEC) reviewed how misinformation and disinformation can affect the integrity and transparency of elections. For example, they examined a case study from the Al Khums district, identifying media violations during the election period.
Together, the group looked at local and international tools for spotting misinformation and disinformation, and came up with practical recommendations to address the issue. These included improving Libya’s legal framework around elections and promoting cooperation among government bodies, civil society, media, and other stakeholders at national and local levels.
Youth and Community Dialogue
The second forum brought in youth and civil society organizations from Libya’s east, west and south regions. The forum shifted the focus from media to security and community issues. Participants discussed security sector reform, and how to reduce violence from community conflicts. UNSMIL said that this was part of its mission to share innovative approaches and lessons on the role of youth and women in de-escalation and conflict prevention.
Participants “recommended ways to strengthen social cohesion and create space for dialogue in the political process.” They even proposed an online networking platform to let citizens from across Libya share ideas and concerns with each other, and with UNSMIL and Libyan institutions. Participants also called for more engagement with civil society on security sector reform and governance, including specialized training.
Progress Made, Challenges Ahead
The Benghazi dialogues illustrate both progress and remaining hurdles. Libyans themselves are taking ownership of the peace process. By convening journalists, civic groups, and officials together, they are building a shared understanding of the problems. The recommendations from the meetings are potential steps to improving trust in the long run.
However, disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech continue to pose a challenge to Libya. At an event for World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya, Hanna Tetteh warned of the dangers posed by deepfakes, AI-generated content, and the lack of regulation. Tatteh also noted that censorship and political pressure pose threats to journalists, and journalists at the event noted that those who violate journalists’ rights must be held accountable. Back in March, a UN statement warned of a misinformation campaign in Libya sewing tensions by inciting hate speech against migrants and refugees.
Yet, Libyans continue to look for ways to tackle these issues. Tatteh said that an UNSMIL initiative starting on May 7 would provide training in digital fact-checking, investigative reporting, conflict-sensitive journalism, and the impact of artificial intelligence on media and politics. She said, “At this sensitive time in Libya’s history, the media has a crucial role to play in creating a conducive environment to unify the country and its institutions and establish lasting stability and prosperity.”
Keywords: Libya, Libyan, Libyans, media, disinformation, misinformation, hate speech, fake news, peace, peace media, peace journalism, journalism, media, peacebuilding, conflict, conflict resolution
