Reporters Without Borders urges Sahelian countries to adopt resolution on press freedom

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling on Sahelian authorities to adopt a declaration on press freedom amid increasing violence against journalists, according to Africanews. At a UNESCO and African Union summit held in Addis Ababa from November 6 to 9, RSF presented alarming reports of threats facing journalists in Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Niger.

In Burkina Faso, journalists face forced military recruitment, pushing them into frontline conflicts under duress. In Mali, attacks on reporters by armed groups are on the rise; investigative journalist Birama Touré, who disappeared in 2016, is believed to have been abducted over his reporting. In Chad, the 2021 killing of reporter Falikou Koulibaly underscored the lethal risks journalists face, while in Niger, journalists are frequently detained under vague national security charges.

RSF’s ten-point declaration urges Sahel states to safeguard journalists, ensure internet access during crises, and uphold public access to information, essential as press freedoms face severe restrictions across the region.