The constitutive conference of the Platform of Regulators of Media and Communication of the Alliance of Sahel States (PAREMEC AES) concluded on September 18, 2026, in Niamey. The event, themed "The informational sovereignty of AES states: stakes, challenges, and common strategy to combat disinformation," aimed to strengthen integration, solidarity, and cooperation among the three member states in media governance and communication. The conference was presided over by Mashoul Abdoul Nasser, Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication and New Information Technologies.
The conference focused on issues related to disinformation, social media, conflict prevention in the Sahel, fact-checking, and harmonization of institutional and legal frameworks for media regulation. Participants included regulators from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The 48-hour event led to the signing of a charter establishing PAREMEC AES and the designation of Gaoussou Coulibaly, president of Mali's High Authority of Communication, as the platform's president.
The conference resulted in recommendations to AES governments to support PAREMEC AES with technical and financial resources to effectively combat disinformation. Participants urged governments to adapt legislative and regulatory texts to ensure efficient regulation of traditional and digital media. They also emphasized the need for regulators to acquire tools and infrastructure to monitor audiovisual and digital content and promote professionalization of media actors.
Regulators highlighted the importance of rethinking media regulation approaches, prioritizing collaborative action to address globalization of platforms. The conference called on confederal media to work towards dismantling narratives opposing the sovereignist vision of AES states. Participants encouraged media to develop programs adapted to the geostrategic and security context of AES states and promote national languages in information production and dissemination.
Gaoussou Coulibaly, president of PAREMEC AES, emphasized that synergy among regulators will enable more effective combat against disinformation and contribute to the cleansing of the confederal media space. He stated that the platform aims to work towards the cleansing of media spaces in the AES zone, where states face numerous challenges, including media lynching, disinformation, and propaganda.
Coulibaly assured that PAREMEC AES will advocate for necessary harmonizations to be undertaken and realized to achieve a harmonized and homogeneous regulatory space within AES. He believes that this will enable regulators to contribute fully to the construction of a sovereign, dignified, and respected confederation. The platform will engage in dialogue with authorities to achieve this goal.
The establishment of PAREMEC AES marks a significant step towards enhancing media regulation and combating disinformation in the Sahel region. The platform's activities will focus on promoting professionalization of media actors, monitoring audiovisual and digital content, and advocating for policy changes to support media regulation. Key stakeholders, including governments and media actors, are expected to support the platform's initiatives.
Key points
- PAREMEC AES aims to combat disinformation and promote media regulation in the Sahel region.
- Gaoussou Coulibaly, president of Mali's High Authority of Communication, has been designated as the president of PAREMEC AES.
- The platform will advocate for policy changes and technical support to effectively regulate media and combat disinformation.
