Year after year, the Forum Harmattan provides a unique platform for collaboration between Dialogue Migration, AfricTivistes and the Legal and Social Expertise Clinic (CEJUS) on migration issues in West Africa. The 7th edition, held in Lomé from 18 to 20 February 2026, once again demonstrated this momentum through contributions to the debates, awareness-raising activities and digital initiatives aimed at providing more accurate and inclusive information on migration.

Ange Banouwin: from panelist to moderator  

Dialogue Migration Benin correspondent Ange Banouwin’s presence at the Harmattan 7 Forum was not limited to that of a mere participant. On the second day, he took part in Panel 3, devoted to ‘Ethics, disinformation and the politicisation of migration’, chaired by Mr Guillaume Goulard, a Member of the Council of State and President of the Interior Section in France. His presentation, entitled ‘Fake news, social media and the construction of migratory narratives’, captured the audience’s attention.

He demonstrated how digital platforms amplify anxiety-inducing narratives surrounding migration, how disinformation campaigns ultimately influence public policy and public opinion, and how migrants are all too often reduced to stereotypical representations. In the face of these abuses, he advocated for media literacy and digital activism as key responses. “Perceptions of migration are constructed and heavily influenced by fake news. To inform is to protect; migration must remain an informed choice”, he urged. His contribution was praised for its relevance in a West African context where the viral nature of digital content has a significant impact on migration dynamics.

On the third day, Ange Banouwin took another step forward by chairing Panel 6, ‘Human Trafficking and Digital Technologies’. The discussions focused on human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants in West Africa, the risks associated with social media, as well as artificial intelligence and internet governance. These are all issues at the heart of Dialogue Migration’s monitoring and research work, which prioritises the protection of migrants’ data and rights in the digital age.

Dialogue Migration and CEJUS: a partnership that shapes our work

Launched in 2022 by AfricTivistes, the Dialogue Migration platform is committed to providing accurate, balanced and human rights-respecting information to reshape the narrative on migration. Its presence at the Harmattan Forum is part of an ongoing collaboration with civil society organisations: the partnership between AfricTivistes and CEJUS, the Forum’s organiser, continues to foster synergies around migration issues.

For this 7th edition, AfricTivistes actively supported efforts to raise the profile of and mobilise support for the event. This contribution took the form, initially, of sharing the Forum’s announcement on the social media channels of AfricTivistes and Dialogue Migration, followed by an interview with the Executive Director of CEJUS, Dieudonné Kossi. For his part, Masbé Ndengar, also a content producer at Dialogue Migration, provided journalistic coverage of the Forum by writing a feature article summarising the key takeaways from the discussions. His analysis highlighted the global governance challenges linked to migration, the economic and social contribution of migrants, and the importance of inclusion as a driver of sustainable development. By drawing on the insights and recommendations arising from the debates, this article helped to broaden the scope of the discussions beyond the circle of participants and to inform the public debate on migration in Africa and around the world.

In addition, a dedicated chatbot has been developed for the CEJUS website. This tool aims to help guide visitors, improve access to information on migration and optimise the user experience by providing quick answers to frequently asked questions on the subject. 

A long-standing presence

Participation in the 7th Harmattan Forum builds on a history that began long before. AfricTivistes’ commitment to CEJUS is renewed with each edition, and the 6th edition, held in Lomé from 19 to 21 February 2025, remains a particularly memorable moment.

That year, it was not a small delegation but the entire team of content producers from Dialogue Migration, as it was known at the time, who gathered in Lomé: six individuals from Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin. On the Forum’s agenda, Laity Ndiaye, weditor-in-chief of Dialogue Migration, spoke on the ethical issues surrounding digital technology in the context of migration, whilst Youssouf Haïdara, a content producer from Niger, shared his journey as a journalist with the student audience.

From a ‘seed of hope sown in Lomé’ to a transformative and forward-looking partnership, AfricTivistes and Dialogue Migration have, through successive editions of the Harmattan Forum, reaffirmed their commitment to working towards a more ethical, inclusive and human rights-respecting African digital space — so that migration is neither misrepresented nor exploited, but understood in all its complexity.