On October 7, 2026, media outlets from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed a partnership agreement in Ouagadougou to consolidate information sovereignty in the Sahel region. The agreement was signed between Editions Sidwaya of Burkina Faso, Agence malienne de presse et de publicité (AMAP) of Mali, and Office national d'édition et de presse (ONEP) of Niger. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation and strengthen the media's role in promoting regional integration and development.
The partnership agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 15th African Universities of Communication (UACO) in Ouagadougou. The forum brought together media actors and communication experts from the Sahel region to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector. The agreement provides a framework for the three media outlets to develop joint training programs, exchange expertise, promote digital innovation, and encourage responsible use of artificial intelligence in journalism.
According to Assétou Badoh, Director-General of Editions Sidwaya, the partnership is crucial in the face of rapid changes in the media sector, marked by digital acceleration, evolving user habits, and increasing disinformation. She emphasized that the media outlets must unite their forces and share experiences to promote their peoples, territories, cultures, and development initiatives. Badoh also highlighted the importance of producing and disseminating their own stories based on their realities, values, and population aspirations.
Alassane Souleymane, Director-General of AMAP and spokesperson for the editors of public media outlets in the Sahel region, noted that the partnership agreement is part of a broader dynamic of media integration. He recalled that national dailies in the region have a long history, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. Souleymane called on national and confederal authorities to support national dailies and invest in public media, emphasizing that they belong to the people.
The partnership agreement also aims to promote cross-publication, joint productions, and special dossiers on political, economic, social, cultural, security, and diplomatic issues in the Sahel region. The three media outlets will work together to develop a common vision of communication in the AES space and implement joint actions to strengthen cooperation between media actors.
Sy Christian Innocent Ouattara, representative of the Minister of Communication, closed the forum by praising the quality of the panels and discussions. He expressed hope that the recommendations from the forum will serve as a plan of action to strengthen cooperation between media actors and communication stakeholders in the Sahel region.
The partnership between Editions Sidwaya, AMAP, and ONEP marks a significant step towards promoting information sovereignty in the Sahel region. By uniting their forces, the three media outlets aim to promote regional integration, development, and a stronger media voice in the region.
Key points
- The partnership aims to promote information sovereignty in the Sahel region by strengthening cooperation between media outlets.
- The agreement provides a framework for joint training programs, expertise exchange, and digital innovation.
- The partnership seeks to promote cross-publication, joint productions, and special dossiers on regional issues.
