Ten years later, RFI commemorates the double assassination of its reporters, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Kidal, in northern Mali. A tragic event that marked the history of journalism and reminds us of the dangers journalists face when carrying out their work in conflict zones.
On November 2, 2013, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were reporting to prepare a series of programs devoted to reconciliation and the reconstruction of Mali. They were kidnapped by jihadists in the center of Kidal, then murdered a few minutes later. This barbaric act sparked a wave of indignation and a deep sense of sadness within the journalistic community.
To honor the memory of these two exceptional reporters, RFI is launching the tenth edition of the Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship. This scholarship aims to transmit their professionalism and their passion for reporting to ten young journalists and ten young technicians from the African continent. The training will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and applications are open to all 25 French-speaking countries on the continent.
Candidates must be under the age of 35 and have worked in radio for at least two years. They must reside in one of the following countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Niger, Republic Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Seychelles, Chad, Togo, Tunisia and Rwanda.
The training will take place from Monday October 16 to Sunday October 29, 2023 and will be followed by practical work. The participants will have the opportunity to produce a report for the journalists and a sound element for the technicians. A jury made up of representatives from RFI, the Ivorian press, the Sciences Po School of Journalism and INA will select a winner in each category.
The award ceremony will take place on November 2, 2023, the date declared by the United Nations as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. It is on this occasion that a tribute will be paid to Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon during a ceremony in Abidjan. The winners will also benefit from a one-month training in Paris to deepen their skills and enrich their journalistic experience.
This RFI initiative bears witness to the desire to perpetuate the legacy of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, while promoting excellence in journalism in Africa. It offers young talent from the continent a unique opportunity to train and get noticed in the media world.