A civil Society Activist Ter Manyang Gatwech has called on African Union leaders to establish continental public broadcasting service to strengthen unity.
Manyang, an Executive Director for Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) believes that a pan-African television service would help to strengthen unity, promote African voices, and ensure accurate and independent reporting across Africa.
According to his statement, Manyang has called upon the African Union (AU) to establish a continental public broadcasting network to strengthen unity.
He emphasized the critical role of media in nation-building and the promotion of democratic values, good governance, and human rights.
He further noted that a continental broadcaster would give Africans a unified platform to share stories, address challenges, celebrate diversity, and drive positive development across the 54 member states of the AU.
According to him, the proposed initiative would serve to counter misinformation, increase media access in underserved regions, and ensure that African narratives are told by Africans, for Africans, and to the world.
He urged AU leadership and heads of state to prioritize media infrastructure as part of Agenda 2063, noting that media freedom and accessibility are essential pillars of the Africa We Want.
Ter Manyang Gatwech is a South Sudanese human rights defender, governance analyst, and director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA). He is a leading voice for transparency, accountability, and inclusive development in Africa.
In recent years according to researchers, Africa’s media landscape has experienced significant transformation, fuelled by technological advancements, greater access to information, and the rapid rise of social media.
Data from 39 countries reveal that while digital media is gaining ground, radio remains the continent’s most widely accessed medium.
This duality of progress brings both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, the media serves as a vital watchdog and agenda-setter; on the other, it grapples with disinformation and divisive narratives that can undermine peace and security, particularly during elections
