Africa-Press – Ghana. Gabon’s Vice President, Mr Alexandre Barro Chambrier, has lauded the contribution of news agencies to Africa’s development, describing them “as vital to the continent’s journey toward information sovereignty and democratic consolidation.”
Opening the 10th Executive Council Meeting of the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) in Libreville, Mr Chambrier said news agencies across Africa played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, preserving collective memory and promoting the continent’s voice in global discourse.
He, therefore, commended FAAPA for fostering cooperation among African press agencies through the exchange of experiences, expertise and professional training.
Such collaboration, he noted, strengthened the media’s capacity to support national and continental development.
The four-day event is on the theme: “News Agencies Facing the Rise in Press Offenses and the Responsibility of Journalists.”
This meeting will examine the FAAPA activity report and action plan, the organisation of training seminars, the redesigning and revamping of the website.
It will also select winners for the FAAPA Media Grand Prize for the Best Video Report, the Best Feature Article and the Best Photo, among other issues.
The Vice President, who spoke on behalf of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, said Gabon was proud to host the gathering at a time when the country was undergoing significant political and institutional reforms under the new Fifth Republic.
Vice President Chambrier said the transformation sought to restore the dignity of Gabonese citizens, deepen freedoms, and enhance governance.
Freedom of expression and information were indispensable pillars of democracy, he noted.
The Gabonese government, therefore, recognised the media not merely as observers but as strategic partners in national development.
“The government trusts its journalists because it is convinced that a free and flourishing press is not risky to the Republic – it is its watchdog,” he stated.
As part of the major political and institutional reforms, the Government had allocated an annual subsidy of 500 million CFA francs to private print and online media and integrated 500 communication professionals into the civil service to promote career stability.
Mr Chambrier emphasised Gabon’s support for FAAPA’s mission and its commitment to serving as a hub for training, innovation and information dissemination across the continent.
Mr Fouad Arif, FAAPA Chairperson, who is also Director-General of Morocco’s Maghreb Arab Press (MAP), urged African news agencies to reclaim their place as the “primary and legitimate sources of African narratives.”
He said credible journalism was the continent’s first line of defence against the spread of fake news, especially in an era dominated by social media and artificial intelligence.
Referencing the theme for the Meeting, Mr Arif said the platform offered the opportunity for reflection on how African media could balance freedom of expression with professional ethics and accountability.
FAAPA, established in 2014 in Casablanca, had become a key platform for training, coordination and professional collaboration among the more than 30 member agencies, he added.
He cited major achievements such as the African Centre for Journalist Training, which has trained more than 300 journalists, and the creation of specialised networks for fact-checking and photojournalism.
These, he noted, reflected FAAPA’s vision of building a united, competent and reliable African media ecosystem.
He also linked FAAPA’s mission to the vision of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, who has championed South-South cooperation, shared responsibility and the pooling of knowledge to enhance Africa’s influence and integration.
The Director-General of the Gabonese Press Agency (AGP), Mr Ghislain Ruffin Etoughet Nzuet, said hosting the FAAPA meeting in Libreville demonstrated Africa’s determination to take charge of its destiny and tell its story through its own lens.
He said the AGP, as an active FAAPA member, was committed to promoting media cooperation and professionalism across the continent.
He lauded Mr Chambrier and Mr Arif for their leadership and solidarity, and commended the directors-general of member agencies for their sustained contributions to FAAPA’s growth.
“African media are no longer mere witnesses; they are tools of change and authors of progress,” he stated, adding that “the strength of African journalism lies in its authenticity, diversity and unity.”
African journalists, he advised, “must tell the continent’s story not through its wounds but through its victories, and use their platforms to enlighten, empower and promote Africa’s image globally.”
FAAPA, headquartered in Rabat, Morocco, is a professional platform that promotes information sharing and capacity building among African news agencies.
It works to enhance multimedia content exchange, professional development and innovation in news delivery across its member states.
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