African Facts is committed to providing accurate, verified and independent information in the public interest, based on reliable facts and sources. Our mission is to contribute to a better understanding of African conflicts while upholding the ethical principles of journalism.
Editorial policy and content
African Facts covers topics related to armed conflict, crimes against humanity, and hate speech. We focus on topics of public interest that are poorly understood, subject to misinformation, or under-represented in relation to their importance. Topics are chosen based on their relevance to African and international readers, their potential impact on peace and security, their potential contribution to justice, dialogue, and conflict resolution, and how timely they are.
All published information is sourced, cross-checked and verified with several reliable, independent sources. African Facts does not relay unsubstantiated allegations. We clearly indicate the limits of our verification and investigations. If a proven error is found, we will publish a transparent and visible correction explaining the nature of the error and the measures taken to rectify it.
African Facts is a media outlet that clearly distinguishes facts from comments or opinions.
No article is published without editorial review and verification to ensure compliance with standards of rigour and ethics.
The editorial line of African Facts is independent of any political, economic, religious or ideological influence. Content is not influenced by external funding. Any partnerships or funding will be published transparently on our website.
Ethics
African Facts condemns all forms of plagiarism, information falsification and manipulation.
We are guided solely by the public interest and the search for truth. We reject any form of interference, whether from states, companies, NGOs or pressure groups.
Conflicts of interest (whether personal, financial or political) are not permitted within the editorial team. Such conflicts must be declared and avoided.
African Facts treats all individuals mentioned in its articles with respect and fairness, without stereotypes, discrimination and attacks on dignity.
In contexts where speaking out could result in imprisonment or death, African Facts protects victims of conflict or human rights violations. Their identity may be anonymised if necessary, and their consent is sought before publication. We avoid exposing victims of conflict or human rights violations unnecessarily, and we respect their dignity. Their voices are amplified, never exploited.
Each journalist or contributor is responsible for the content they produce. If there is a breach of ethics, corrective measures such as withdrawal, correction or a public apology will be implemented.
Our ethics are based on the fundamental principles of the Munich (1971) and Tunis (2019) charters, to which we adhere.
Pseudonyms
African Facts allows the exceptional use of pseudonyms. This is reserved for cases where the safety of journalists is threatened. Articles published under a pseudonym are validated by the editor-in-chief, who is aware of author’s real identity and keeps it confidential. Pseudonyms must not be used to conceal conflicts of interest or circumvent ethical rules.
African Facts assumes full moral and legal responsibility for all content published on the website.
Gifts, expenses and travel
Journalists and contributors must not accept any gifts, benefits or favours that could compromise their independence or objectivity. Gifts of symbolic value must be declared to the editor. Travel and expenses related to reporting or investigations must be covered by the media outlet or declared transparently.
Invitations to events (e.g. conferences and seminars) will only be accepted if they are relevant to the mission of African Facts and do not create conflicts of interest. Acceptance is subject to the approval of the editorial team.
Side activities
Journalists and contributors may engage in outside activities, provided that:
- These activities do not undermine their independence or the credibility of the media outlet.
- They do not create conflicts of interest with the topics covered by the media outlet.
- They are declared to the editorial team if they concern areas related to the news covered.
Members of African Facts are prohibited from simultaneously working for actors (governments, companies or NGOs) whose interests could influence editorial content.