AfricArXiv is committed to supporting researchers across the African continent, including those working in contexts of conflict, displacement, or political vulnerability.
In exceptional circumstances, authors who face credible personal risk may request to publish under a pseudonym.
Eligibility
A request for pseudonymous publication may be considered when:
- The author demonstrates credible safety concerns related to public disclosure of identity.
- The author meets AfricArXiv’s scope and eligibility criteria.
- The author agrees to confidential identity verification by the repository.
Confidential Verification
Where pseudonymous publication is requested:
- The author’s legal identity must be provided to AfricArXiv for confidential verification.
- Identity information will not be made public.
- Documentation will be handled securely and accessed only by designated moderators.
Integrity and Accountability
AfricArXiv maintains research integrity standards in all cases.
Verification of legal identity is required to:
- Ensure authentic authorship
- Enable conflict of interest review
- Protect repository credibility
Pseudonym requests will not be granted for convenience, branding, or non-safety-related reasons.
Transparency
Where pseudonymous publication is approved, the public record may include a note indicating that the author’s identity has been verified but is withheld for safety reasons.
Limitations
AfricArXiv cannot guarantee absolute anonymity once research is publicly available online. Authors should carefully assess their personal risk before requesting pseudonymous publication.
Case-by-Case Review
Each request is assessed individually. Approval is not automatic and remains at the discretion of the moderation team.
Contact
Authors seeking pseudonymous publication should contact the moderation team at submit@africarxiv.org prior to submission to discuss their circumstances confidentially.