Journalism is a noble profession that requires passion, courage and commitment. Unfortunately, sometimes journalists pay the ultimate price for their quest for the truth. This is the case of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, two journalists from Radio France Internationale (RFI) who were assassinated ten years ago in Mali. In order to perpetuate their legacy and promote press freedom, commemoration ceremonies took place in Abidjan and Paris, marked by debates on the situation of the press in the Sahel and the presentation of a scholarship in their honor.
On November 2, 2013, Ghislaine Dupont, aged 57, and Claude Verlon, aged 55, were kidnapped and then killed while reporting in northern Mali, near Kidal. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for this act, but many questions remained unanswered regarding the exact circumstances of their assassination. Despite this, their memory continues to inspire and mobilize.
On the occasion of this tenth anniversary, commemoration ceremonies were organized in Abidjan and Paris, with the aim of paying tribute to Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, but also to raise awareness of press freedom in the Sahel region. , a region devastated by jihadist violence. Debates were thus organized, highlighting the challenges and obstacles that journalists face in their daily work.
But the commemoration does not stop there. The “Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship”, created in 2014, aims to pay tribute to the passion and expertise of the two reporters while training young radio professionals in Africa. This year, two winners were chosen: Joseph Kahongo from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the journalists category, and Ange Joël Agbla from Benin in the technicians category. These two young journalists will have the opportunity to benefit from an internship at RFI headquarters in the Paris suburbs, allowing them to strengthen their skills and continue the fight for press freedom.
This commemoration is also an opportunity to bring together the winners of previous scholarships, which created the “Dupont-Verlon Network for Investigative Journalism”. This network aims to promote freedom of expression, the right to information and the safety of journalists. Ghislaine Dupont’s mother, Marie-Solange Poinsot, agreed to be the godmother of this new association, thus marking her commitment to the defense of press freedom.
The assassination of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon is a tragedy that reminds us of the need to defend press freedom and protect those who risk their lives to inform us. Their legacy continues to inspire many journalists and young professionals who aspire to raise their voices and tell the stories that make a difference.
It is essential to support these commemoration and scholarship initiatives, to ensure that the ideals of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon continue to live on through future generations. Press freedom is a fundamental pillar of any democratic society, and it is our duty to protect and defend it.
Source: https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20231103-comm%C3%A9moration-dix-ans-mort-ghislaine-dupont-claude-verlon-abidjan-paris-bourse-libert%C3%A9- press