Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Communication, Media and Francophonie, Amadou Coulibaly, met with the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) Executive Committee on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at the ministry's headquarters in Abidjan, ahead of the federation's upcoming summit.
The FAAPA delegation was led by its president, Fouad Arif, who is also Director General of the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), alongside FAAPA Vice President Oumou Barry Sana, who serves as Central Director of the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP).
The meeting precedes the federation's 9th Executive Committee session, set to take place from October 3 to 5 in Abidjan.
Coulibaly expressed his enthusiasm for Côte d'Ivoire hosting the high-level FAAPA talks, citing the "complex global geopolitical context" as an important backdrop for discussions. He emphasized the critical role African press agencies play in delivering reliable, fact-checked news.
"Our African story must be told by Africans themselves," Coulibaly underlined, adding that the continent's press agencies are now equipped to compete globally.
He also highlighted the enduring human relations between Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire, recalling the historical relationship initiated under Félix Houphouët Boigny and late HM King Hassan II, which have been further consolidated, thanks to the common will of President Alassane Ouattara and HM King Mohammed VI.
The minister praised the strong partnership between AIP and MAP, calling it a model for collaboration within the FAAPA framework.
For his part, Arif expressed his great joy at the judicious choice of the city of Abidjan to host the 9th meeting of the FAPAA Executive Committee, highlighting the fraternal and historic relations and the multifaceted partnership between Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the deep human ties between the two peoples.
"The choice of Côte d'Ivoire to host this session is first and foremost a choice of the heart," said Arif, pointing to the challenges facing African media, including the growing need for African narratives to be shaped by Africans.
MAP Director General highlighted FAAPA’s ongoing efforts to tackle the spread of misinformation, particularly via social media, noting that the Federation has established a network of journalists focused on combatting fake news, providing a platform for the exchange of best practices.
