The International Festival of Freedom of Expression and Press (FILEP) celebrated its tenth edition this year, which was held from October 18 to 21, 2023 in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The event, organized by the Norbert Zongo National Press Center (CNP-NZ), brought together participants from different regions of Africa, Europe, America and Australia, for high-level discussions on the theme “Media, conflicts and social cohesion in Africa”.
During these four days, festival-goers had the opportunity to attend panels on different topics related to media and conflicts in Africa. They were also able to participate in fun activities such as football matches and artistic performances. Mali stood out in terms of representation with 35 participants, journalists and heads of professional organizations, who came to share their experience.
The official opening ceremony was marked by introductory speeches from different personalities, tributes to FILEP pioneers and an inaugural conference. Namibia was in the spotlight during this edition, due to its position as a champion in terms of press freedom, according to reports from Reporters Without Borders.
In his opening speech, the President of the FILEP Organizing Committee, Innoussa Ouédraogo, underlined the importance of the question of the relationship between the media and conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, which are often the breeding ground for human rights violations. the man. He recalled that since its creation in 2000, the festival has highlighted the major problems affecting the development of media on the continent.
Participants also expressed their vision of FILEP, perceiving it as an important gathering for journalists. Zine Cherfaoui, editorial director of the independent daily El Watan in Algeria, underlined the importance of exchanges between journalists to discuss the problems they face in the exercise of their profession.
The FILEP thus offers the opportunity to share experiences, make resolutions, denounce violations of journalists’ rights and challenge decision-makers and populations on the need to defend freedom of expression and the press, both both nationally and internationally.
This edition of FILEP was marked by the participation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other Central African countries. It is crucial to recognize the security challenges these countries face, particularly in the run-up to elections, and to commit to the region’s stability and democracy.
In conclusion, the International Festival of Freedom of Expression and the Press is a major event that brings together journalists and media actors from around the world to exchange, debate and promote freedom of expression. This tenth edition was a success, with high-level discussions and precious moments of sharing. FILEP thus continues to play an essential role in defending press freedom and promoting responsible journalism.