[ACCI – CAVIE] In today’s information ecosystem—where narratives clash and perception shapes reality—mastering influence dynamics and understanding the workings of information warfare have emerged as strategic imperatives for both public and private African actors. In light of this reality, the 8ᵗʰ edition of the African Competitive Intelligence Days (JAIE), under the leadership of the ACCI, has made this theme a central pillar of reflection, in line with the broader focus on the “emergencies of African competitive intelligence.”

Influence, as understood by the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI), goes far beyond mere persuasion. It refers to the ability to shape opinions, decisions, and behaviours of key stakeholders—whether citizens, business partners, investors, or international bodies. In today’s globally competitive environment, the ability of African businesses and governments to project a positive image, defend their interests, and promote their values on the international stage is intrinsically tied to their capacity to master the levers of influence.

Conversely, information warfare—often insidious and multifaceted—is an increasingly serious threat to information sovereignty and national stability in Africa. The proliferation of disinformation campaigns, smear operations, and digital manipulation attempts aims to destabilise institutions, polarise societies, and undermine decision-making processes. In the face of such attacks, a genuinely African competitive intelligence, both proactive and sophisticated, is essential to detect, analyse, and neutralise hostile operations.

For the ACCI, mastering influence and building resilience against information warfare are crucial issues of governance and national security. This involves developing robust communication strategies, strengthening tools and methods for monitoring and analysing information flows, and fostering a culture of critical awareness across civil society. According to Dr Guy Gweth, President of the ACCI, “more than ever, the ability to counter misleading narratives and promote an African vision of the world is a solid guarantee of sovereignty and strategic autonomy.”

As for African private sector actors, operating in a globalised and hyperconnected environment, managing their reputation and protecting their brand image have become vital to competitiveness. African competitive intelligence provides them with the means to anticipate reputational risks, handle information crises, and develop influence strategies that help them penetrate new markets and build client loyalty. The ability to craft a credible and compelling corporate narrative is a key success factor in today’s increasingly competitive landscape.

Practically speaking, the contribution of African competitive intelligence in this field lies in its capacity to deliver deep analysis of information ecosystems, identify key influencers, map distribution networks, and evaluate the impact of information campaigns—while taking into account the cultural matrix of each target audience and the consequences that follow. It enables the development of targeted influence strategies and the implementation of effective, context-sensitive countermeasures against destabilisation efforts.

In short, influence and information warfare represent major challenges for the future of African public and private actors. Authentic African competitive intelligence, with its ability to decode information dynamics and support informed strategic action, has become an essential instrument for navigating this complex environment and forcefully asserting the continent’s interests and aspirations. The expert discussions planned during JAIE2025 on this crucial topic are expected to spark awareness and lead to concrete actions to strengthen the influence and information resilience of African stakeholders.

The Editorial Team