Paper short abstract:

We examine two different aspects of citizens’ uses of social media in Mali: an online heritage discourse often used to mediate veiled critique of the political present, and the proliferation of fake news, much of it in support of the current political situation.

Paper long abstract:

We examine two different aspects of citizens’ uses of social media in Mali: an online heritage discourse, often used to mediate veiled critique of the political present and weave alternative political projects; and the proliferation of fake news, much of it in support of the current political situation and the realignment of international alliances.

De Jorio focuses on a select number of Facebook accounts dedicated to the preservation and valorization of Mali’s cultural heritage. She argues that the reimagining of the past—and the selection of specific aspects to be remembered- is key to Malian citizens’ search for political venues out of (or around) the current political and security crisis. The cultural domain has often mediated the expression of political criticism and facilitated searches for political alternatives, particularly during Mali’s recurring autocratic phases and the related contraction of spaces for public debate. While seemingly focusing on matters of culture, such Facebook accounts promote the return to a reimagined past characterized by interethnic cohabitation, exchanges, and peace.

Savané focuses on the proliferation of fake news and the creation of fake accounts that have contributed to the deterioration of relations between Mali and some of its long-standing international partners. The arrival of the Wagner militia from Russia seems to have intensified this wave of fake news and strengthened the alliance between Mali and Russia. Savané will analyze these new dynamics that are developing at the heart of what has been called “rectification of the transition.”