2024-04-26 23:26:34
This panel, held under the theme “African sovereignty in action: perspectives on information and initiative for the Atlantic coast”, was also an opportunity to highlight the contribution of press agencies in general, and to the FAAPA in particular, in supporting development initiatives in the Sahelo-Atlantic zone, in particular the Strategic Initiative launched by HM King Mohammed VI to promote access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, through a approach to regional cooperation for common development.
During this panel, moderated by Cameroonian journalist and media expert, Xavier Messé A Tiati, the speakers looked at ways to preserve the sovereignty of African information and pool efforts to counter “fake news”. attacks on the image of Africa, while highlighting African specificities in their cultural, political and economic diversity.
The Director General of the Senegalese Press Agency (APS), Thierno Ahmadou Sy, has, in this sense, noted that the promotion of informational cooperation at the continental level is dependent on the establishment of strong, “sustained and supported” media. on all levels, whether by institutions, African industrialists, businesses and by elected governments.
“To compete with those in front of us, we need strength,” he insisted, noting that “we draw this strength from our African environment.”
The CEO of the APS, in this regard, paid tribute to the various partners of FAPPA and press agencies in Africa, considering that the support provided by these partners “does not fall under marketing and sales, but constitutes the guarantee of a better future for a strong Africa”.
For his part, the Director General of the Congolese Press Agency (ACP), Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya, emphasized the importance of intra-African cooperation and solidarity in different areas, noting that Morocco offers a model to follow in this area, as evidenced by the investments made by the Kingdom in different countries on the continent.
In the information field, he called for working to consolidate the presence of agencies and other press organs on the media scene on a continental scale, by providing them with logistical means and technical tools, capable of allowing them to fulfill their mission in the best conditions.
In this regard, he proposed the organization of joint reporting and investigations within the FAAPA, specifying that the federation of efforts is the only way to make the voice of Africa heard and make known the African reality as which is.
For her part, the Director of Publication of “Finances News Hebdo”, Fatima Zahra Ouriaghli, indicated that this General Assembly is being held in an exceptional context, marked by the launch of the Strategic Royal Initiative aimed at promoting access for countries from the Sahel to the Atlantic coast, highlighting the particular attention paid by HM King Mohammed VI to the development of Africa and the strengthening of South-South cooperation.
Underlining the importance of cooperation between the different bodies of the FAAPA, which have the means to combine and unite their efforts, she noted that the Federation, as an exchange platform, plays a leading role in preserving the information sovereignty at the continental level.
Ms. Ouriaghli also observed that Africa “is reinventing itself and needs collective intelligence, through the pooling of efforts to democratize information and find innovative solutions”, adding that the FAAPA is a vector to ensure independence in terms of information.
She further noted that African press agencies are called upon to seize the opportunities available to them and take advantage of the good practices of journalists to forge appropriate responses and achieve media sovereignty, particularly in the context of the strong digitalization of information.
For his part, the Director General of Ghana News Agency (GNA), Albert Kofi Owusu, called for joint action and cooperation at all levels between African news agencies to overcome all current challenges, particularly “fake news “.
In this regard, he indicated that press agencies should communicate more on all the initiatives and programs implemented at the continental level, with the aim of highlighting Africa and its natural and human resources. .
Mr. Owusu also insisted on the need to invest more in the development of cooperation between African press agencies and to capitalize on the achievements of the FAAPA, for more visibility among the world’s media, calling for intensifying meetings and communication between different African media actors for the preservation of media sovereignty.
Placed under the theme “African information: a major sovereignty issue”, the 7th General Assembly of the FAAPA brings together, for two days, the General Directors of African press agencies, media experts and eminent personalities from the African Atlantic region to explore ways to strengthen African sovereignty, through information and dynamic initiatives along the Atlantic coast.
2024-04-26 23:26:34