Côte d'Ivoire assumes leadership of the African Union of Broadcasting in Banjul
via Abidjan.net8 min read
The 17th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting AUB, held from April 14 to 17, 2026, in Banjul, Gambia, saw Côte d'Ivoire take a leading role in African audiovisual media. On its 20th anniversary, the AUB appointed Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne RTI to chair its Executive Board. Additionally, the private Ivorian channel NCI was integrated into the expanded governance structure of the AUB. RTI's election to the Executive Board presidency signifies a two-year mandate for Côte d'Ivoire, occurring amidst a restructuring phase for the AUB, which aims to harmonize broadcasting policies across the continent in response to digital transformations. A significant outcome of this assembly was the reform of the Executive Board's composition, increasing private sector representation from one to three seats. NCI, alongside Africa 24 and Label TV, now holds a position in this decision-making body. During the assembly, NCI's Director General, Ange Fabien Gueï, participated in a strategic panel discussion on the rising costs of sports retransmission rights in Africa. This discussion, which included Grégoire Ndjaka, Director General of the AUB, Pape Alé Niang, Director General of RTS, and expert Abdelmounaïm Bah, emphasized the necessity for African broadcasters to collaborate in negotiations with international rights holders. The AUB, which succeeded URTNA, is the largest professional media organization in Africa, comprising national radio and television bodies as well as
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