The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) have called on African governments to intensify efforts to protect journalists, investigate attacks against media practitioners and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
In a joint statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2, the two institutions warned that persistent attacks, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention, enforced disappearances and digital abuse continue to threaten press freedom and independent journalism across the continent.
The statement was jointly issued by the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, and FAJ President, Mr Omar Faruk Osman.
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Under the global theme, “Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures,” the statement highlighted the changing nature of threats against journalists, particularly the growing risks associated with new technologies, digital surveillance and evolving weapons in conflict situations.
It noted that journalists reporting from conflict zones, covering elections or investigating corruption and human rights abuses often operate under dangerous conditions, with perpetrators of attacks frequently escaping accountability.
The two institutions expressed particular concern about the exposure of female journalists to gender-based threats, harassment and technology-facilitated online violence.
They warned that when attacks against journalists go unpunished, perpetrators are emboldened, public-interest journalism is weakened and citizens are deprived of information necessary for democratic participation and accountability.
The African Union Commission and FAJ reaffirmed the critical role of independent media in promoting peace, democracy, transparency and people-centred development, as envisaged under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
They also referenced the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression and access to information, stressing the responsibility of AU Member States to uphold these rights and ensure the safety of media practitioners.
The statement called on African governments to establish or strengthen national mechanisms for the safety of journalists and ensure that law enforcement agencies respect and protect the legitimate work of media professionals.
It further urged governments to safeguard journalists covering protests, elections, emergencies and armed conflicts, while ensuring that laws are not weaponised to intimidate journalists, obstruct legitimate reporting or restrict freedom of expression.
On emerging digital threats, the institutions called for effective measures to address surveillance, online harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence without undermining fundamental human rights.
They also advocated stronger cooperation among governments, regional and continental institutions, media organisations, journalists’ unions and civil society organisations to advance prevention, protection and accountability.
The statement emphasised that journalists and their representative organisations must be meaningfully involved in developing and monitoring safety mechanisms, including through peer review to encourage the responsible exercise of freedom of expression.
It stressed that ending impunity for crimes against journalists is fundamental to protecting human rights, strengthening democratic governance and building peaceful societies across Africa.
The two institutions reaffirmed their commitment to a continent where journalists can work freely and safely, attacks against them are thoroughly investigated, and perpetrators are held accountable.
They maintained that no journalist should have to risk violence, intimidation or death simply for performing the essential duty of informing the public.
