By Stephen Ouma Bwire in Nairobi.
Leaders of journalists’ trade unions and associations from Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, who are affiliated to the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), attended the Eastern Africa Journalists Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, from 28th – 29th June 2021, organised under the theme “Standing United for Media Freedom and Better Working conditions:”
Members expressed shock and dismay at the deliberate contacts made from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the unions of journalists in Eastern Africa and Africa as whole to challenge and discredit the organisation of FIFA 2022 World Cup in the State of Qatar.
The conference noted with total disbelief that while journalists in the Eastern Africa region are struggling to preserve their independence and freedom from rogue governmental and commercial interests that threaten the integrity of journalists, an external actor should be behind the attempts to manipulate, divert and involve journalists in an issue that is completely out of the scope and mandate of journalists and their unions
Delegates reasserting that in the same manner that journalists and their unions in Eastern Africa call out, confront and protest against governments in Eastern Africa for interfering with journalists’ work and curtailing their freedoms, all foreign forces with negative and mendacious agenda must be condemned and publicly challenged as a matter of principle and consistence
At the end of the three – day conference delegates resolved to reiterate and re-affirm the Accra resolution by the African Journalists Leaders Conference of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) which unequivocally condemned attempts by actors from the United Arab Emirates to drag African journalists into unprincipled conflicts over the hosting on the FIFA 2022 World Cup by Qatar.
Eastern Africa journalists resolved to align themselves with the position adopted by the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the labour issues in the State of Qatar.
The warned and called for the vigilance of all journalists and news media organisations in Eastern Africa against the heightened activities by external actors in Eastern Africa and Africa as whole that seek to corrupt and manipulate journalists and news media organisations into disseminating and publishing paid for stories against FIFA 2022 World Cup.
EAJA members agreed to rebuff initiatives by foreign sympathisers of the campaign by the UAE against FIFA 2022 World Cup who masquerade as well-meaning intruders with a view to involve journalists in unscrupulous conduct and actions.
Eastern African Journalists resolved to work in unison with fellow journalists and their organisations in West Africa, Southern Africa, North Africa and Central Africa about the dubious interference and stand united to protect and preserve the independence and integrity of journalists in Africa.
They called on the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to closely monitor and take necessary actions to deter the ongoing attempts to manipulate journalists in Eastern Africa to discredit FIFA 2022 World Cup.
EAJA members pledged total support and urged CECAFA, CAF and FIFA to ensure inclusive, independent and professional coverage of the FIFA 2022 World Cup by journalists from Eastern Africa and Africa as a continent■
