Ouagadougou Declaration at the end of the 10th edition of FILEP
The International Conference of the 10e edition of the International Festival of Freedom of Expression and Press (FILEP), held in Ouagadougou from October 18 to 20, 2023 on the theme “Media, conflicts and social cohesion in Africa”, brought together more than two hundred participants from different regions of the African continent including 33 countries, Europe, America, Oceania, as well as the African diaspora around the world.
During the work, participants highlighted that most African countries are facing a democratic deficit and multidimensional crises. These crises result in an unprecedented development of several forms of insecurity such as organized crime, cross-border crime, civil war and terrorism which affect several countries in the Horn of Africa, the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahelo-Saharan strip.
This situation particularly affects freedom of expression and the press, of which the media remain institutional channels. Due to the option taken by many governments clearly tending today to oppose the fight against terrorism or other forms of insecurity to freedom of expression and of the press, the democratic achievements of people are constantly threatened with being undermined. in question. However, the work shows that in these contexts, journalists and the media have a crucial role to play in providing citizens with fair, true and useful information in order to counter rumors and propaganda harmful to peace and social cohesion. There is no doubt that processing information related to insecurity is essential to enable populations to understand the challenges of the crisis and to develop civic postures that meet the demands of the security crisis. The media can only respond to the public’s need for information if journalists enjoy all their rights, starting with access to information and sources of information.
Unfortunately, in many countries, journalists instead face repression from the various powers in place, as we see in Chad where two journalists were assassinated in 2022. Cameroon, for its part, recorded four assassinations of journalists: Jean Jacques Ola Bede in February 2023, Anye Nde Nsoh and Arsène Salomon Mbani Zogo alias Martinez Zogo. However, what is even more revolting is the impunity that surrounds these crimes against journalists. The lucky ones end up in jails. This is the case in Burundi with Florianne, Irangabiye, in the DRC with Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, in Niger with Samira Sabu and in Tunisia with Khalifa Guesmi, Yassine Romddhani and Chadha Haj Mbarek. Without forgetting that since 2020, four journalists have been in detention in Cameroon.
It is essential for African leaders to understand that the African media are not opposed to the fight against insecurity and do not refuse to participate if there is agreement on this participation by specifying the roles and responsibilities of each actor. Furthermore, the commitment and participation of the media in the fight against insecurity does not mean that they must turn a blind eye to the conduct of state affairs and to professional ethics and ethics. Otherwise, taking such an approach would amount to a pure and simple resignation from their public service missions because the journalist’s duty always requires him to demand transparency and accountability from those in power in the management of public affairs. This is why, in such a crisis, the media must demonstrate greater professionalism and responsibility in seeking solutions in the name of the general interest.
The participants also noted that the media are not intended to oppose established powers, nor to reduce themselves to on-board attendants obliged to only take into account official speeches, especially when these are contrary to duty. of truth or confuse the interests and political ambitions of those in power with the general interest.
The participants in this 10th edition of FILEP also insisted on the fact that freedom of expression and press cannot be a brake on the fight against terrorism as some would have you believe. On the contrary, this fight against terrorism essentially aims to promote the conditions for the effective exercise of individual and collective freedoms, including that of the press. The fight against terrorism cannot therefore be effective by using the same methods of terror as terrorist groups. This struggle aims rather to create the conditions of security and justice necessary for cohabitation between communities, for the construction and consolidation of a democratic society, rich in its divergence and resilient in the face of attempts to destroy living together. The objective of terrorists, it is known, is to hinder freedom and to call into question the foundations of the State of law and living together.
Finally, the participants call on African governments to appropriate this thought of the Czech, Josef Jařab, who affirms that “ Terrorism must not affect the importance of freedom of expression and information in the media as one of the essential foundations of any democratic society. This freedom includes the right of the public to be informed of matters of general interest, including terrorist acts and threats and the responses given by the State and international organizations.. »
Yes, even in times of war, people have the right to information to better understand the situation and adopt civic postures and the individual and collective commitments that the situation requires. The media and their professionals are actors and artisans of peace. They cannot and must not be assimilated to simple propaganda instruments in the service of political powers.
Done in Ouagadougou on October 20, 2023
Participants in the 10th edition of FILEP
