Public media organisations in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger signed a partnership agreement in Ouagadougou on October 7 to strengthen exchanges and contribute to the creation of a common information space within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
The agreement, aimed at establishing a common information space among the three AES member states, brings together the Malian Press and Advertising Agency (AMAP), Burkina Faso’s Sidwaya publishing house and Niger’s National Publishing and Press Office (ONEP).
It provides for content sharing, joint productions, joint training programmes and enhanced cooperation in digital media.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Ouagadougou African Communication Universities (UACO), where a forum on the media and AES sovereignty brought together stakeholders from the sector.
Discussions focused in particular on audiovisual co-productions, the sharing of archives and the creation of content highlighting the history, cultures and national languages of the three countries.
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Gilbert Ouédraogo, called for a coordinated response to information-related challenges, based on quality content and verified information.
Officials attending the meeting called for stronger media capacity to improve the flow of information and amplify the voice of the confederation.
HO/te/Sf/lb/as/APA