• Research Associate, Sub-Saharan Africa

Tessa Knight

Tessa Knight is a research associate for the Sub-Saharan Africa region at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) based in South Africa. Tessa worked as a news journalist for two South African media companies before joining the DFRLab where she discovered her passion for tracking disinformation and the spread of digital propaganda on the African continent.

As a research associate for DFRLab’s sub-Saharan African research unit, Tessa is committed to increasing awareness around digital propaganda, and working with other researchers, journalists and policy-makers to come up with uniquely African solutions to both local and international disinformation targeting the continent.

October 2022

Footage raises additional questions about Wagner presence in Sudan

by Tessa Knight, Private: Mattia Caniglia, Ruslan Trad

Videos allegedly show Wagner personnel training Sudanese Army and RSF paramilitary forces.
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October 2022

Russian War Report: Ukraine recaptures territory as Russia uses Iranian drone near Kyiv

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russia has began its use of Iranian-made drones to try and slow the Ukrainian counter-offensive, a mass grave found near Lyman, and Russian Telegram praises the “pro-Russia” coup in Burkina Faso.
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July 2022

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel linked to inauthentic Facebook assets from Côte d’Ivoire

by Tessa Knight

Alleged NGO from Côte d’Ivoire ran inauthentic Facebook assets that promoted its expanding pro-Russia Telegram channel.
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