Participants from media leaders, press syndicate representatives, and journalists from across Africa pose for an image during the end The 61st session of the Union of African Journalists in Cairo, Egypt. Ahram.
Speaking on behalf of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Counsellor Reem Hindi welcomed participants and underlined the Council’s commitment to supporting the Union’s efforts to strengthen African media through training and capacity building.
Journalist Ezzat Ibrahim, Editor-in-Chief of Ahram Online and Al-Ahram Weekly, spoke on behalf of Union President Mahfouz Al-Ansary, stressing the Union’s long-standing mission to defend press freedom, promote solidarity, and uphold professional ethics. Ibrahim said the session affirms that “Africa’s media future will be built by Africans, through cooperation and solidarity.”
This year’s programme includes 22 journalists from 20 African countries alongside Egyptian participants and syndicate leaders from Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, and Uganda.
Sessions will address topics such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, press freedom in conflict and peace, cultural soft power, journalism and human rights, and Egypt’s recent development experience. Other discussions will examine US foreign policy in Africa, ethical coverage of conflicts, and strategies for resource investment.
In addition to seminars, participants will take part in hands-on workshops on editing and production using artificial intelligence, attend sessions at the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate and the American University in Cairo, and visit leading outlets including the Middle East News Agency.
Cultural tours will showcase Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, and the National Centre for Translation.
The opening ceremony was attended by UAJ Secretary-General Dr. Samia Abbas, Media Training and Studies Centre Director-General Amal Abdel-Muttalib, and members of the Union’s Technical Secretariat, including Ambassadors Ahmed Haggag and Mohamed Higazy, journalist Ahmed Ayyoub, and broadcaster Ayman Adly.
Established to champion press freedom and strengthen professional standards, the Union of African Journalists continues to serve as a platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange across the continent. The 61st session highlights Africa’s determination to empower its journalists and reinforce its collective voice in global media.
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