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African Journalists' Federation holds meeting in Rabat to discuss activities and prepare for 6th Congress
via Le Matin5 min read
The steering committee of the African Journalists' Federation FAJ began its work on Monday, April 13, in Rabat, at the invitation of the Moroccan National Press Union SNPM. This statutory meeting, which concludes on April 14, brings together representatives from the continent's five sub-regions, along with former President of the International Federation of Journalists IFJ and IFJ honorary treasurer, Jim Boumelha. The agenda includes reviewing activities since September 2024, validating the federation's institutional policies, and preparing for the 6th FAJ Congress. This comes as the federation expands its focus to include gender, climate, and migration issues. Abdelkbir Khchichine, President of the SNPM and FAJ executive bureau member, highlighted the symbolic importance of the meeting, emphasizing its role in renewing collective commitment to journalism in Africa. The meeting occurs amidst challenges to press freedom in some areas, particularly the Sahel and East Africa, and a push to strengthen union capacities through specialized thematic networks. The committee will examine activity reports from the five sub-regions West, Southern, East, Central, and North Africa and validate progress since the last meeting in Nouakchott in September 2024. Key achievements include the creation of three specialized continental networks in 2024: the African Labour Migration Journalism Network ALMJN, a continental working group on climate change, and a regional action plan against disinform
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Must ReadThe European Union's Ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, stated on Friday that "it is not time to escalate, but to negotiate," referencing UN Security Council Resolution 2797. He emphasized that Morocco's autonomy plan should form the basis for achieving "a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution" to the Western Sahara dispute. This statement follows several international condemnations of attacks targeting Smara and calls to preserve diplomatic efforts under the United Nations.
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