In commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, which is designated as Africa Day, the continental journalists' body said Africa's future must remain firmly in African hands and warned that the march for democracy and development cannot flourish where journalists are silenced and tormented.
The Pan-African Federation said Africa Day represents more than a symbolic anniversary, describing it as "a celebration of our progress, our identity and our shared determination to build the Africa we want", with what FAJ described as "conviction" and a belief that Africa's liberation and future had to be shaped collectively by Africans themselves, including journalists in the continent.
FAJ stressed that journalism and access to information remain central to Africa's emancipation, democratic development and social justice, particularly at a time when many journalists across the continent continue to face intimidation, censorship, arrests, attacks, killings and economic hardship.
The Federation said African journalists play an indispensable role in defending truth, exposing misgovernance, highlighting threats to peace and security, amplifying public voices, uplifting African narratives and documenting the continent's realities despite increasingly difficult working conditions.
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FAJ President, Omar Faruk Osman, said: "The future and destiny of Africa belong to Africans, and that future cannot be shaped when African journalists are denied the basic freedoms that our forefathers fought for. It is only right that journalists must have the freedom, protection and strength to tell our stories truthfully and without fear. Any predator of press freedom on this continent stands in the way of the people's aspirations to achieve the AfricaWeWant."
He further stated that Africa cannot claim to be fully free while journalists are imprisoned, silenced or attacked for serving the public interest. "Empowering journalists means empowering Africa itself because information remains one of the continent's strongest tools for justice, peace, stability and democratic progress," he added. "Africa's story must be told by Africans, but this is only possible when those Africans telling the story, who are journalists, are free and safe to do so,"
FAJ salutes the indefatigable struggle of African journalists for freedom, dignity and justice. FAJ also called on African governments and continental institutions such as the African Union to properly drive the realisation of the 'AfricaWeWant' mantra by nurturing press freedom and creating an environment where journalists can work safely and independently without intimidation or fear.
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FAJ warned that shrinking civic space, authoritarian tendencies, unconstitutional changes of governments and attacks on media freedom in almost every corner of the continent reverse the progress made and threaten not only journalists but also Africa's democratic aspirations and collective development.
For more Information, please contact the IFJ - Africa Office
1st Floor, Maison de la Presse, 5 Rue X Corniche, Medina,
BP 64257, Dakar, Senegal
Tel: +221- 33 867 95 86/87; Fax: +221- 33 827 02
