Who Owns Africa is an independent online platform focused on digging into who really owns what across the continent. We investigate economic ownership, investment trends, corporate power, resource extraction, and land rights in African countries. Our mission is straightforward: shine a clear light on the forces shaping Africa’s economies — from land and minerals to industries, infrastructure, and even data — and give African citizens, policymakers, researchers, and interested readers around the world the transparent, fact-based information they need. We’re convinced that knowing who owns what is the first step toward fairer development, better governance, and real African control in today’s global economy.
This Editorial Policy lays out the rules and values that shape everything we publish. It applies to every editor, writer, contributor, and member of the team. We hold ourselves to the very highest standards of journalism and ethics because the stories we tell often involve powerful multinational companies, foreign governments, and local elites who expect — and sometimes demand — kid gloves. We refuse to wear them.
Accuracy comes first
Getting it right isn’t optional. Every fact, figure, and claim we make has to stand up to scrutiny. For any major allegation — especially about who owns what, big money deals, or policy consequences — we insist on several solid, independent sources. We always prefer primary documents: company filings, land records, official reports, contracts, satellite images, leaked papers. When we have to use secondary sources, we carefully check how trustworthy they are and whether they carry any slant.
We only quote anonymous sources when the information really matters to the public and there’s no other way to get it. Even then, at least two editors have to double-check that the source is credible and the details make sense. Rumours and guesswork never make it into our pages as fact. Charts, maps, and infographics get the exact same level of fact-checking as the text.
Staying independent and fair
We guard our editorial independence fiercely. No funding, sponsorship, or partnership is allowed to influence what we cover or how we cover it. Any advertising we carry is clearly marked and kept well away from our stories. We don’t do “native” or sponsored articles dressed up as journalism.
We aim to be fair, but we’re honest about something important: true neutrality is impossible when you’re reporting on deep, structural inequalities. We don’t pretend the viewpoint of a multinational mining giant carries the same weight as the small-scale farmers or indigenous communities directly affected. Instead, we let the evidence lead and deliberately amplify voices that are usually sidelined in conversations about money and power — smallholder farmers, pastoralists, informal traders, African academics, and grassroots activists.
Treating people fairly
Anyone or any organisation we investigate gets treated with basic fairness. If we’re making serious claims about them, we reach out and give them a genuine chance to respond before we publish. We include those responses in full unless they’re clearly off-topic or obviously untrue. If they choose not to comment, we say so plainly.
We steer clear of hype and drama. Headlines and social media posts must honestly reflect what the article actually says. No clickbait, ever.
Being open about how we work
We tell readers how we got our information: what methods we used, which documents we relied on, and where the gaps or limitations are. If we’re using satellite photos, company registries, or information requests, we explain the process. When an investigation has specific funding, we disclose it. Any relevant connections or possible conflicts an author has appear at the bottom of the piece.
Owning our mistakes
Even small errors damage trust, so we fix them quickly and openly. Corrections go right at the top of the article, with a clear note explaining what went wrong and how we corrected it. Bigger mistakes prompt a separate editorial note walking through what happened. Readers can email us correction requests — every serious one gets looked at within 48 hours.
When fresh information changes the context of a story (without overturning the main findings), we publish a clarification.
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Everyone on staff and our regular contributors has to declare any financial, personal, or professional ties that might look like they could affect coverage. No journalist is allowed to write about a company or person they (or close family) have shares in or other direct links to. Our board, advisors, and big donors have zero say in editorial decisions.
Reflecting the real Africa
Africa isn’t one single story. Our reporting tries to capture the continent’s huge diversity — languages, cultures, regions, and ways of thinking. We actively look for contributors from every corner of the continent and from different backgrounds, and we make sure African voices lead when we’re talking about African ownership. We avoid lazy stereotypes and token inclusion; our sources and writers should reflect the full complexity of the issues.
Core ethics
We follow established international journalism standards, including those from the International Fact-Checking Network and the Society of Professional Journalists. We take extra care to protect people who could be put at risk by speaking out, often anonymising them. We never pay sources for interviews or information.
Photos and video come only with proper permission or clear fair-use rights, and we always credit the source. We never run deepfakes or doctored media as if they’re real.
Keeping news and opinion separate
We clearly label everything: straight news, investigative pieces, analysis, and opinion. Opinion articles still get checked for factual accuracy but are allowed to make strong, reasoned arguments. Anyone writing opinion must declare any relevant affiliations.
Staying connected with readers
We love hearing from you — feedback, story tips, even contributions. When we can verify reader-submitted information, we’re happy to use it and give credit. Comments are moderated to keep out hate speech, lies, and harassment, but we want real, open discussion.
We review this policy every year and update it when necessary. Anyone who breaks these rules faces serious consequences, up to and including being let go. If you think we’ve fallen short, you can submit a formal complaint through our public form — every legitimate complaint gets a proper response.
At the end of the day, we know that information about ownership is power. We’re committed to handling that power with care, always in the service of truth, accountability, and genuine African self-determination.
Last updated: 16th January 2026