The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) held its 1230^th meeting (Open Session) on 2 September 2024, which was dedicated to the theme: Protection of Journalists and Access to Information in Situation of Armed Conflicts in Africa.

Council took note of the opening remarks of H.E. Ambassador Amb. Churchill EWUMBUE-Monono, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the AU and PSC Chairperson for September 2024, and the introductory statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

Council also took note of the presentations by H.E. Honorable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, and by Mr. Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ). The council further take note of the statements by H.E. Ambassador Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, the Chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Panel of Eminent Persons, by Ms. Lydia Gachungi, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Adviser on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists; and by the Representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the AU.

Council reiterated its commitments to the instruments, principles and aspirations of the AU, in particular AU’s Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 3 and 4 which underline “An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law’’ and “A peaceful and secure Africa’’, respectively, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the ACHPR during its 67th Ordinary Session held from 13 November to 3 December 2020, adopted the “Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and Media Practitioners in Africa”.

Council commended the journalists for their public interest work in the promotion of democracy, freedom of speech and political accountability and for contributing to the early warning which allowed for the prevention of conflicts; also commended the efforts of the AU Commission, the ACHPR and the APRM in promoting the role of journalists in contributing to peace, security, and democracy and towards the development of Africa in ensuring human rights are upheld;

Council expressed concern over the rising number of violent attacks and threats to journalists and humanitarian workers in conflict situations and condemned all violations and abuses committed; the Council further expressed solidary and paid tribute to all journalists and humanitarian workers who lost their lives in duty and called Member States to ensure accountability for those who committed those crimes.

Council encouraged Member States to actively engage in the development and implementation of national and regional strategies that align with AU guidelines and principles that safeguard the safety of journalists and media facilities, particularly the October 1995 Johnesburg principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information; the Resolution 185 of 2011 of the Banjul Charter, the 2013 AU Model Law on Access to Information; and the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.

Council called upon Member States to ensure that journalists undertake their public responsibilities in adherence to international laws, humanitarian and human rights norms as well as professional ethics to which civilian protection applies.

Council requested the AU Commission to put in place comprehensive, forward-looking, and action-oriented actions on the protection and safety of Journalists in times of armed conflict in line with the International Declaration such as the 2004 Geneva Declaration on Actions to Promote Safety and Security of Journalists and Media in Dangerous Situations; the 2004 Belgrade Declaration on the Rights of Journalists working in war zone; and UN Resolution A/RES/68/163 (2013); 69/185 (2014); UNSC 1738 (2006) and 2222(2015); and UN Resolution A/RES/68/163 as well as the third Geneva Convention and Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to effectively harness the potential of journalists and media to transform the continent in line with the AU Agenda 2063 goals; Council further requested that the AU Commission report back on the action-oriented actions for consideration.

Council encouraged the AU Member States to consider forming a Working Group on the Protection of Journalists and National Coordination Mechanisms for the Safety of Journalists as well as of Friends for the Safety of Journalists within the PRC to work with other relevant stakeholders, such as the APRM and AU ECOSOCC Journalists in Africa, to improve cooperation and ensure a safe environment for media workers.

Council requested the AU Commission to facilitate the development of a strategy and policy framework that  enables the use of information  and the media for peace-building, mediation, reconciliation, post-conflict reconstruction and peace support operations; the Council further requested the AU Commission to develop frameworks to oversee the responsible integration of the safety of journalists in military operations, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and international humanitarian law as applied to civilian protection and submit the outcomes for consideration by the Council;

Council expressed concern over the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, particularly in digital platforms and underscored the need to enhance efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation through media and other platforms while also addressing the risks associated with the generation of false information; in this regard, Council highlighted the need for the AU Commission fully implement all relevant decisions on media, peace and security and to comprehensively and systematically address the immediate issues that arise from emerging technologies and new media, including the misuse of social media for propagation of hate, and the use of such technologies for surveillance, repression, censorship, online harassment and orchestrating cyber-attacks.

Council also requested the AU Commission to support continental mechanisms for the safety of journalists that will distinguish and separate duty bearers, citizens, and rightful professional journalists on the protection of journalists and urged the AU Commission to strengthen security measures by incorporating media ethics that can efficiently identify and mitigate social media and digital media threats as well as to undertake efforts to ensure robust protection of media infrastructures in armed conflict.

Council directed the AU Commission, in cooperation with the ACHPR, APRM, AUCIL, and AU ECOSOCC, to produce a comprehensive study on the legal, institutional, and policy framework and map the protection of journalists and access to information in Africa.

Council reiterated the need for the AU Commission, Member States,  Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) in collaboration with Journalists and Media Practitioners to promote the use of media-driven early warning systems to detect and analyse potential conflict indicators, enabling conflict prevention measures, as well as disseminating early warning lifesaving information, which could be to guide displaced communities to find safety and shelter or to look for and reconnect missing loved ones.

Council looked forward for the jointly organization of the global conference by AU and UNESCO on the commemoration of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from 6 -7 November 2024 under the theme of “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies”.

Council agreed to convene future interactive and consultative meetings on a yearly basis; in this regard, also agreed to hold the next joint consultative meeting in 2025.

Council agreed to remain actively seized of the matter.

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