A Malian delegation led by Mohamed Ag Albachar, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Communication, is participating in the 15th edition of the African Communication Universities of Ouagadougou (UACO) from October 7-9. The event, themed "In a context of communication war, what attitudes and aptitudes for information and communication actors in Africa?", brings together media professionals, researchers, and experts to discuss challenges facing the information and communication sector.
The Malian delegation includes Yaya Konaté, Director-General of the Malian Office of Radio and Television (ORTM), Alassane Souleymane, Director-General of the Malian Press and Advertising Agency (AMAP), and Salif Sanogo, Director of Tafouk TV, the television channel of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The opening ceremony was presided over by Burkinabé Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
On the sidelines of the UACO, the Malian delegation participated in a forum on the role of media in constructing a common and sovereign information space within the AES. The discussions focused on identifying areas of cooperation between media outlets in the three member countries, including co-productions, exchanges between editorial teams, and sharing of archives.
The forum also explored the development of digital content dedicated to the history, cultures, and national languages of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Participants aim to promote better circulation of information within the confederal space and provide populations with content more anchored in their realities.
Burkinabé Minister of Communication Gilbert Ouédraogo called for a concerted response to information challenges, emphasizing the need for quality content and fact-based information. Bassolma Bazié, president of the National Commission of the Confédération des États du Sahel, stressed the importance of strengthening media production and distribution capacities to amplify the voice of the confederal space.
The AMAP, Sidwaya, and ONEP signed a partnership agreement on October 7 to enhance cooperation between Malian, Burkinabé, and Nigerien media outlets. The agreement provides for content exchanges, joint productions, and training programs.
The participation of Mali in the UACO and the AES media forum is part of a broader effort to consolidate ties between information professionals in the Sahel region. The goal is to contribute to the emergence of a sovereign, credible, and professional communication capable of better informing populations and promoting the realities of AES countries.
Key points
- Strengthening media cooperation between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to promote a stronger voice in the Sahel region.
- The 15th African Communication Universities of Ouagadougou (UACO) brings together media professionals, researchers, and experts to discuss challenges facing the information and communication sector.
- Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger media outlets sign partnership agreement to enhance cooperation and promote a common information space.
