Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), has emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among journalists' unions and media institutions across Africa. He made these remarks during a visit to the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, where he discussed the need for a common African agenda to defend journalists' rights and press freedom. Osman highlighted the significance of deepening communication among journalists' unions across Africa and drawing on the Egyptian syndicate's extensive institutional experience.
Osman underlined the need to broaden cooperation, particularly in training, journalist protection, and support for unions facing professional and financial pressures. He also discussed the principal challenges confronting journalists across the continent, noting that these vary considerably from one country to another according to political and security conditions. Issues such as wages, working conditions, and professional rights remain common concerns throughout much of Africa.
The FAJ president visited Egypt as part of the Somali delegation participating in the 52nd Arab Labour Conference in 2026. During his visit to the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, Osman discussed several issues with Khaled El-Balshy, head of the syndicate. These included solidarity with Egyptian journalists and the responsibility shared by African journalists to strengthen unity and collective action in defense of journalists' rights and press freedom.
Osman highlighted the importance of drawing on the experience of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, one of the continent's largest and most established journalists' organizations. He noted that journalists' unions in countries such as Kenya or Senegal could benefit from the Egyptian experience in managing union affairs and resources, handling relations with governments and employers, and developing mechanisms to protect journalists and provide assistance to them in difficult circumstances.
The challenges facing journalists in Egypt differ from those confronting journalists elsewhere in Africa, according to Osman. While Egypt is not experiencing a civil war or an open conflict with armed groups, other countries such as Somalia and Nigeria face security challenges associated with extremist groups. However, professional challenges such as working conditions, salaries, financial entitlements, and professional rights and freedoms are shared by journalists in Egypt and many other African countries.
As President of the Federation of African Journalists, Osman emphasized the federation's role in protecting and supporting journalists. The federation has developed plans and campaigns specifically aimed at defending journalists, including advocacy campaigns and efforts to emphasize the importance of respecting journalists' rights and dignity. Osman stressed that the federation works to defend journalists and support them in difficult circumstances.
The Federation of African Journalists also seeks to develop relationships with journalists' organizations on other continents and to promote solidarity among journalists across Africa. Osman noted that the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate's membership of the federation is important, but what matters even more is how to translate that relationship into genuine solidarity and collective action in defense of journalists' rights.
Key points
- The FAJ president emphasizes the need for a united African voice to defend journalists' rights and press freedom.
- Osman highlights the importance of drawing on the experience of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate to strengthen African journalists' unions.
- The FAJ works to protect and support journalists through advocacy campaigns and efforts to promote solidarity among journalists across Africa.
