Current events in the Sahel are marked by an alarming situation for journalists. Since the assassination of RFI special correspondents, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, ten years ago, the region has become a real danger for information professionals.
Indeed, the Sahel, which includes countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is prey to the rise of Islamist groups. This situation has led to a deterioration in security, making journalism extremely risky. Western journalists, and particularly the French, are less and less welcome in the region.
But it is especially local journalists who are most affected. Censored, physically attacked or threatened with death on social networks, they live in a constant climate of fear. Being a journalist in the Sahel has become one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, with dramatic consequences for freedom of information and the local populations who depend on it.
In this context, a major 22-minute report provides a damning assessment of the press situation in the Sahel. It highlights the challenges and dangers faced by journalists in this region, while paying tribute to Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, victims of a deadly attack whose exact circumstances still remain unclear.
The press and freedom of information are fundamental pillars of any democratic society. Without free and secure access to information, local populations are left in the dark and deprived of their right to know the truth. It is therefore urgent to act to guarantee the safety of journalists in the Sahel and preserve the very essence of democracy.
It is important to remember that press freedom does not only concern journalists, but every individual who benefits from free and independent information. It is a fight that must be fought collectively, so that every voice can be heard and the truth is not stifled by fear.