On October 7, 2026, professionals from the media and communication sectors in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger gathered in Ouagadougou to address the theme "Media and Sovereignty of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States." The forum, held on the sidelines of the African Universities of Communication in Ouagadougou, aimed to enhance information sovereignty within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) region. Participants emphasized the need for improved cooperation among media outlets in the three countries.
Bassolma Bazié, president of the National Commission of the Confederation of Sahel States and patron of the forum, stressed that the battle for AES sovereignty is inextricably linked to the battle for information sovereignty. He recalled the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States on September 16, 2023, in Bamako, and the subsequent establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States on July 6, 2024, in Niamey. Bazié noted that the resistance by the three states seeks to achieve full sovereignty in the political, economic, security, and cultural spheres.
Bazié called on media professionals to acknowledge the power dynamics at play in the information and communication domain. He cited Norbert Zongo, a former journalist, saying, "One does not liberate a person; a person liberates themselves." Bazié emphasized that the quest for sovereignty cannot be undertaken naively and urged media professionals to be aware of the interests at stake. He also paid tribute to Norbert Zongo, highlighting his commitment to sovereignty and the circumstances of his tragic death.
According to Bazié, information is a strategic weapon in defending sovereignty, likening it to a Kalashnikov rifle on the front lines. He encouraged journalists, researchers, and communicators to contribute to building a new information order that enables Sahelian peoples to tell their own stories. Bazié criticized the dominant position of international media in producing and disseminating information about the Global South, which he believes reduces African countries to mere consumers of externally produced information.
The minister of communication, culture, arts, and tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, highlighted the importance of cooperation among media professionals in the three states. He noted that the current context demands strengthened cooperation to promote "sovereign, responsible, and strategic information." Ouédraogo denounced the use of information and communication for manipulation and domination, emphasizing that the war for information seeks to influence public opinion and impose foreign narratives.
Ouédraogo called for the emergence of an alternative discourse to challenge stereotypes and subversive messages targeting AES states and their leaders. He invited media professionals to enhance their capacities to counter disinformation and information warfare, fostering experience-sharing and collaboration. The forum's discussions aimed to define a confederal policy supporting media development and elaborate a charter for AES journalists.
Key initiatives have been launched to bolster information sovereignty, including the creation of a confederal press and the launch of Tafouk TV, which began broadcasting on September 16, 2026. These new media outlets aim to increase visibility for the achievements, culture, and values of the confederal space. The forum's outcomes are expected to contribute to a stronger, more independent media landscape within the Alliance of Sahel States.
Key points
- Media professionals from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been urged to enhance cooperation and produce endogenous content to strengthen information sovereignty within the Alliance of Sahel States.
- The battle for sovereignty within the AES is inextricably linked to the battle for information sovereignty, with information being a strategic weapon in defending sovereignty.
- New media initiatives, including Tafouk TV, have been launched to promote a stronger, more independent media landscape within the Alliance of Sahel States.
