Upon a kind invitation from the Union of Ivorian Media Professionals, represented by the African media star Dr. Sanogo Zoumana, I had a special meeting with Ivorian media outlets. I found that the Ivorian media in Africa stands out for three key features:
– A media that is built on the idea of unified citizenship, which helped Abidjan avoid the trap of fanaticism that many other African countries fell into, resulting in civil wars between national components. This is evidenced by the success of Ivorian national awareness in foiling both internal and external plots that once aimed to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians.
– A genuine national media that engages with critical issues, which has granted the political system popular internal legitimacy and contributed to a political environment enriched with patriotic figures that Abidjan proudly celebrates.
– Ivorian journalists, in general, are innovative. For example, each journalist has their own awareness project, carried out in their own way. What is truly impressive is that they hold weekly brainstorming sessions to discuss strategies for developing what is known in French as “L’avenir des médias africains,” which in Arabic means “The Future of African Media,” in support of national media.
Thank you to the Union of Ivorian Journalists for your warm hospitality, wonderful reception, and the opportunity to get to know you more closely. Thank you all.
Dr. Amina Al-Araimi
