Thomson Reveals Methods of Manipulation and Exaggeration of Military Narratives in Sudan

Amsterdam: London: Kampala / Friday, October 16, 2026: Radio Dabanga - A report issued by the British Thomson Foundation has revealed an escalation in disinformation campaigns and hate speech, as well as the use of social media platforms to manipulate information related to the war, fuel tribal and ethnic divisions, and target women and female journalists, in addition to promoting unverified narratives regarding military developments. The report, issued as part of the Digital Resilience in Sudan project funded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, explained that the Sudanese digital space is witnessing increasing interference between military operations and media campaigns. Accounts loyal to the army and others loyal to the Rapid Support Forces are working to amplify conflicting narratives regarding territorial control, field victories, and political legitimacy. It monitored the spread of old photos and videos re-circulated as documenting recent events, as well as the use of content generated or modified by artificial intelligence, and the reposting of unverified claims across Facebook, X, and Telegram platforms with the aim of influencing public opinion and deepening polarization. It noted the expansion of narratives related to regional and international interventions in the Sudanese war, including accusations and claims regarding the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Chad, and South Sudan, pointing out that a number of the materials circulated did not provide sufficient evidence to support the claims accompanying them. The report warned of the rise of rhetoric based on identity and tribal and ethnic affiliations, especially in the Darfur region, where political and civil statements have been used to question the national belonging of certain population components and to reproduce racist stereotypes, contributing to deepening divisions and threatening peaceful coexistence. Thomson revealed that Sudanese female journalists and artists have been subjected to defamation and online abuse campaigns, including journalist Rashan Oshi and artists Hiba Jabra and Kasha Al-Nile, through the circulation of rumors, moral accusations, and offensive comments targeting their reputations and their participation in the public sphere. The report also documented the circulation of fabricated claims, including a fatwa attributed to preacher Abdelhay Yousef regarding the permissibility of drinking alcohol during combat, before it was refuted by the 'Juhayna' fact-checking platform, as an example of the speed at which disinformation spreads across digital platforms.