Journalists of our time face many challenges, but for those working in the Sahel, the situation is particularly worrying. Since the assassination of RFI special correspondents Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon ten years ago by terrorists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the region has become a real no-man’s land for journalists.
Countries in the Sahel, such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, are facing an alarming rise in radical Islamism. Local journalists are the first victims of this situation. They suffer censorship, physical attacks, death threats on social networks. Being a journalist in the Sahel has become one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Press freedom is fundamental to a democratic society and yet access to information is increasingly restricted in this region. Local journalists are often the only witnesses to the events and abuses that unfold daily, but their voices are silenced.
This sad observation highlights the importance of supporting and protecting journalists in the Sahel. It is essential to ensure that they can practice their profession safely and without hindrance. Governments, international organizations and civil society must join forces to guarantee press freedom and the right to information in this region.
It is also essential to pay tribute to our colleagues Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, who lost their lives while exercising their profession. Their sacrifice should serve as a constant reminder of the value and courage of journalists who risk their lives to inform us.
It is time to make press freedom a priority in the Sahel. We cannot remain silent in the face of this wave of violence and censorship. We must defend the professionalism and integrity of journalists and ensure that the voices of those living in the Sahel are heard. The fight for press freedom must not stop. The world needs journalists who dare to tell the truth, even in the most dangerous places.