The East and Horn of Africa region’s eight-member Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has set up a new media network to report on peace and security issues in the area.
The network, launched in December in Ethiopia, aims to promote transparent, professional and contextual coverage of peace and security issues. The network was established with the participation of journalists, media regulators and other media practitioners from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and driving important conversations around issues of good governance, sustainable development, peaceful resolution to conflict and regional integration. This network is a step towards promoting human security in the region, said Siraj Fegessa, the Peace and Security Division director of IGAD. He also acknowledged the need for a platform to engage with journalists and media practitioners to cover peace and security issues in the region, especially now when the region is faced with multiple threats to human security.
The launch of the network also saw the formation of a steering committee to liaise with IGAD on structures for proactive communication on sensitive topics related to peace and security. This network will be a valuable tool for IGAD to engage with the media and provide them with accurate information on peace and security issues in the region. It will also enable the media to report on these issues in a more informed and responsible way.
Overall, the establishment of the new media network by IGAD is a step in the right direction towards promoting peace and security in the East and Horn of Africa region. It will help to raise awareness of the challenges facing the region and promote a more accurate and responsible coverage of peace and security issues by the media. This will ultimately lead to a more informed public and a greater understanding of the challenges facing the region, which is essential for promoting peace and security in the long-term.